THE  GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 


BEATRICE 


BY 

ROBERT  AITKEN 

FRONTISPIECE  BY 

HARRISON   FISHER 


GROSSET     &     DUNLAP 
PUBLISHERS     -    NEW    YORK 


Copyright 

The  John  McBride  Company 

Published  October 


THE  GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

CHAPTER  I 

THE   ARTISTIC   ATMOSPHERE 

A  NOISY  knocking  startled  Corbyn,  brush  in  hand 
before  his  canvas  and  scowling  blackly  at  the  bare 
studio  walls. 

It  preluded  the  entrance  of  a  prosperous-looking 
youth,  trimly  attired  in  tight-fitting  garments  of  pro- 
nouncedly English  cut,  and  carrying  a  cane.  From 
the  soles  of  his  neat  shoes  to  the  crown  of  his  hat  he 
was  the  very  pink  and  pattern  of  decorous  propriety. 
Even  the  plain  leather  watch-guard  he  wore  outside 
his  double-breasted  waistcoat  seemed  but  to  em- 
phasise the  solidity  of  his  social  and  financial  stand- 
ing; it  was  as  though  he  had  no  need  to  advertise 
by  means  of  a  gold  chain  the  fact  that  to  the  unseen 
end  of  it  there  was  attached  the  eighteen-carat 
diamond -capped  chronometer  with  which  his  great- 
grandfather had  timed  the  attack  at  Waterloo. 

He  greeted  the  preoccupied  artist  genteelly  and 
said  with  suave  directness,  "I  wish  you'd  lend  me 
a  V,  old  chap.  I  haven't  seen  such  a  sight  as  a 

1 

2134116 


2  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

cheque  for  centuries,  and  some  infernal  fellow's  had 
the  impudence  to  stick  a  dispossess  on  the  door  of 
my  den.  I  think  it  would  be  wise  to  appease  my 
landlord  with  at  least  a  five-dollar  bill." 

Corbyn  did  not  at  once  reply.  He  stood  still, 
staring  at  his  visitor,  pipe  in  mouth,  thumb  in  palette, 
a  shadow  on  his  forehead,  only  his  eyes  showing 
cognisance  that  he  was  not  alone:  a  young  man, 
thin-faced,  tanned,  athletic  in  appearance  despite 
his  careless  studio  dress,  a  man  of  open  air  propen- 
sities, of  the  stamp  that  they  mint  at  Yale. 

"Florian's  dead,  Allardyce,"  he  at  length  an- 
swered, his  tone  unusually  grave.  "I'm  empty- 
handed.  I'm  trying  to  get  this  canvas  covered  on 
the  chance  that  it  may  fetch " 

The  other  rose  in  haste  from  the  decrepit  chair  on 
which  he  had  cautiously  seated  himself,  and  drew 
from  his  waistcoat-pocket  a  rusty  steel  watch. 

"The  deuce!"  he  said,  and  moved  towards  the 
door.  His  exclamation  spoke  quick,  sympathetic 
understanding. 

"  I'll  be  back  within  half  an  hour  and  bring  some 
money  with  me." 

Corbyn  heard  him  clatter  downstairs,  and  re- 
turned to  his  own  task  with  a  groan  of  disgust. 

"I  can't  paint  pictures;  not  to  sell,  at  any  rate," 
he  told  his  usual  confidant,  the  limp  lay-figure  which 
was  all  the  model  he  could  afford  at  that  moment. 
"  I  never  could.  I'll  never  be  able  to. 

"The  only  profitable  opening  on  Fifth   Avenue 


THE  ARTISTIC  ATMOSPHERE  5 

for  my  brush  is  with  the   broom-and-helmet  bri- 
gade!" 

He  glared  at  the  very  creditable  sketch  before 
him,  and  broke  into  doleful  song: 

"  'White — wings — that  never — grow  weary,'  "  and 
from  far  below  there  came  a  voice  which  finished 
for  him : 

*  They  carry  me — cheerily — over  the — sea.' ' 

His  face  lit  up,  he  laid  aside  the  implements  of 
his  craft  and  hurried  out  into  the  dingy  hall-way  as 
there  came  clambering  up  one  not  unlike  himself  in 
build  but  fairer  of  complexion,  with  twinkling  Irish 
eyes,  who  forthwith  embraced  him. 

"Dennis  O'Dare  presents  Himself — in  one  act," 
said  that  gentleman  a  little  breathlessly,  and  "  Hello, 
Denny!"  Corbyn  cried  in  very  genuine  welcome. 
"  Where  have  you  sprung  from  ?  When  did  you  get 
back  to  Broadway?  How  are  you,  eh?  What's 
good?" 

"Ask  nothing  more  of  me,  sweet!"  implored  the 
newcomer  with  melodramatic  gesture.  "  Ask  nothing 
more,  nothing  more — until  you've  helped  me  to  a 
little  low  seat  and  a  big  high-ball.  These  stairs  are 

steeper  every  time  I  climb  them,  and What  ? 

Nothing  doing !    Ales,  wines  and  spirits  all  run  dry  ? 

"Oh,  my  prophetic  soul,  my  Corbyn!  How 
sharper  is  it  than  a  serpent's  tooth — to  have  an 
unquenched  thirst  I" 

"I'm  drefful  sorry,  Denny,"  Corbyn  apologised, 
"but — there's  something  rotten  in  the  state  of  my 


4  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

exchequer.  The  oil  and  colour  trade's  gone  back  on 
me.  I'm  all  to  the  bad  this  Fall,  and — Florian's 
dead." 

" Not  Fifi's  brother?" 

"  Fifi's  brother.  He  died  two  days  ago,  and  she's 
left  penniless.  His  illness  cost  them  everything.  I've 
done  all  I  could  for  them,  which  wasn't  much,  of 
course.  And  now  I  must  see  her  through  somehow; 
I  promised  him.  That's  why  the  cupboard's  bare. 
I  haven't  even " 

O'Dare  held  up  a  hand  in  protest.  "You  talk, 
talk,  talk,"  he  complained,  "until  my  head  goes 
round;  and  all  /  want  to  know  is  whether  a  ten 
would  be  of  any  use  to  you.  I've  got  one  in  my  jeans, 
and  here  it  is.  Now  not  another  word,  or  you  and 

I'll  part  in  pain  and  anger,  and Here's  the 

British  lion  with  a  big  bundle  of  filthy  lucre. 

"What  ho,  without!  I  give  thee  greeting,  good 
my  lord." 

"What,  Denny!"  exclaimed  the  Englishman 
delightedly,  dropping  the  bulky  burden  he  had 
brought  with  him.  "I'm  deuced  glad  to  see  you 
again,  old  chap.  Manhattan's  been  a  howling  wilder- 
ness since  you  set  out  for  Bullion  City.  How  d'ye 
do  ?  Eh  ?  I'm  deuced  glad  to  see  you. 

"Speaking  of  bullion,  I've  brought  you  an  X, 
;Corbyn.  Best  I  could  do  at  such  short  notice,  and 
I'm  afraid  I'll  have  to  take  it  out  in  board  and  lodg- 
ing too — I've  brought  my  bedding  with  me,  you'll 
.observe." 


THE  ARTISTIC  ATMOSPHERE          5 

Corbyn  looked  anxious.  "But — but  you  haven't 
given  up  your  own  place,  have  you,  Allardyce  ?  "  he 
asked.  "  I  should  have  told  you " 

"I'm  homeless,"  answered  Allardyce.  "I've 
parted  with  all  my  worldly  possessions  except  these 
blankets  and  the  clothes  I  stand  in  for  ten  paper 
dollars — and  a  receipt  for  rent  overdue,  to  date. 
My  landlord  let  me  go  without  so  much  as  shedding 
a  tear. 

"  Don't  fuss.  We'll  camp  here  together  until  the 
next  earthquake." 

"  But  Denny's  cashed  in  a  ten  for  Fifi,"  Corbyn 
responded  somewhat  vexedly.  "  I  wish  I  could  have 
let  you  know  in  time." 

"However,  we'd  better  settle — you'd  better  set- 
tle between  you  how  much " 

"You  talk,  talk,  talk!"  snorted  Dennis  O'Dare. 
"  Why  don't  you  take  the  girl  her  twenty  dollars,  eh  ?  " 

"Cut  loose,"  commanded  Allardyce.  "I  haven't 
time  to  argue  with  you." 

Corbyn  obeyed  with  the  greatest  good  will,  and, 
after  he  had  gone,  his  two  guests  grinned  at  each 
other  genially. 

"I'll  stake  my  shirt  you  haven't  even  a  bronze 
Indian  left  to  bless  yourself  with,"  the  actor  adven- 
tured. 

"Bet  you  a  blanket  I  haven't  any  less  than  you,'\ 
retorted  his  companion,  and  O'Dare  laughed 
delightedly. 

"7  knew  it!    /  knew  it!"  he  asserted.     "You'll 


6  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

never  prosper  in  business  like  me,  my  boy;   you're 
too  extravagant." 

"  I'm  economical ;  I've  got  two  silver  dollars  saved 
up.  Yes,  right  here."  He  tapped  a  trouser-pocket. 
"And  now  you  owe  me  a  blanket.  That's  how 
I  accumulate  wealth." 

"Poor  Corbyn's  still  at  outs  with  his  dad?"  he 
went  on  more  gravely,  and  Allardyce  nodded. 

"  The  old  man's  as  hard  as  nails,"  he  replied.  "  He 
has  no  use  for  a  son  outside  the  business,  and  Cor- 
byn's got  about  as  much  head  for  business  as  you 
or  I,  Denny.  It's  our  misfortune,  but  I  don't  see 
that  we  should  be  blamed  because  we  were  born 
that  way.  And,  after  all,  this  is  a  free  country. 
There's  no  law  that  I  know  of  for  forcing  round 
pegs  into  square  holes. 

"If  my  father  had  been  a  business  man  and  in- 
sisted on  my  following  in  his  footsteps,  I'd  have 
followed.  But  within  a  week  he'd  have  offered  me 
half  his  remaining  fortune  to  get  out  again,  and  stay 
out.  Corbyn's  too  conscientious  to  stick  the  old 
gentleman  for  the  price  of  experience,  and  all  the 
return  he's  got  for  his  scruples  so  far  is  the  key  of 
the  street." 

"  He'll  come  out  right  side  up  in  the  end,  all  the 
same,"  said  O'Dare.     "I've  known  Corbyn  ever 
since  we  were  at  college  together.     He'll  stay  the 
course,  or  drop  dead — but  he  won't  give  up.    And — 
Here  he  comes." 

Corbyn  looked  depressed  as  he  entered  and  threw 


THE  ARTISTIC  ATMOSPHERE          7 

himself  down  on  the  rickety  couch.  He  had  stopped 
to  open  his  letter-box  in  the  hall-way  both  going  and 
coming,  but  found  it  empty.  "Poor  Fifi!"  he  said 
presently.  "  It's  not  six  months  yet  since  she  came 
over  to  nurse  her  brother,  and  now " 

"  Will  she  go  back  to  Europe  ?  "  asked  Allardyce. 
"  What  does  she  think  of  doing  ?  " 

The  artist  shook  his  head.  "She  hasn't  a  living 
soul  to  go  to,"  he  replied.  "Stephan  was  all  the 
world  to  her. 

"  No,  she's  made  up  her  mind  to  stay  right  here 
and  seek  work  till  she  finds  it.  She's  just  as  plucky 
as  her  brother  was,  and  just  as  proud.  She  won't 
be  idle  long,  I'm  sure,  and  with  the  money  you  two 
have  put  up  for  her  she  ought  to  manage.  I  had  hard 
work  to  make  her  take  it,  but  she's  a  dollar  or  two 
short  since  the  funeral,  and  I  succeeded  in  the  end. 

"She's  been  to  see  about  a  berth  already, 
and " 

He  was  about  to  express  her  gratitude  and  his  for 
the  most  timely  helping  hand  when  O'Dare,  fore- 
seeing that,  broke  in : 

"  It's  up  to  us  three,  then,  to  do  a  deal  in  futures," 
he  suggested.  "I'm  on  the  kerb  myself — the  idle 
of  Broadway,  you  know — and  have  been  for  so  long 
that  I've  almost  made  up  my  mind  to  move." 

"  Then,  why  the  devil  did  you  turn  in  that  ten  ?  " 
Corbyn  interposed.  "I  thought  you  had  just  got 
back  to  town  and  were  still  wallowing  in  wealth, 
or " 


8  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

"  Now  don't  butt  in,"  O'Dare  commented,  in  mild 
reproof.  "Put  that  in  your  mouth,  and  smoke  it 
while  I  occupy  the  pulpit."  He  produced  three 
black  cigars  and  passed  them  round. 

"I  may  as  well  admit,"  he  resumed,  having  lit 
his  own,  "that  I've  been  back  from  Bullion  City— 
falsely  so  called,  I  assure  you — for  a  full  month,  i 
reached  the  Grand  Central  Station  without  a  cent. 
That's  why  I  haven't  been  here  before,  you'll  under- 
stand— and  there's  no  use  kicking  about  it  now, 
Corbyn. 

"Since  then  I've  worn  a  rut  in  the  Rialto,  with 
the  usual  result.  My  talents  are  thrown  away  in 
New  York  and  I  haven't  been  able  to  get  grub-wages 
to  go  on  the  Road  again.  I've  even  tried  vaudeville, 
with  the  same  result.  Nothing  doing. 

"  I'm  down  and  out,"  he  ended  abruptly. 

"  Me  too,"  said  Corbyn  with  a  wry  grimace.  "  1 
chucked  the  illustrating  game  for  Art  with  a  big  A 
before  I  ought  to,  and  forthwith  ceased  to  earn  a 
living." 

They  looked  at  Allardyce,  and  he  took  up  the 
tale.  "My  expenses  in  Manhattan,"  he  said  pre- 
cisely, "seem  to  exceed  my  earning  capacity  by 
some  three  hundred  and  fifty  per  cent.  I  haven't 
sold  a  manuscript  for  months,  so  last  night  I 
burned  the  lot.  It  bores  me  to  think  about  things. 
I'm  going  on  the  wallaby  again.  That's  my  short 
story." 

"Then  we're  all  three  in  the  same  street — which 


is  Queer  Street,"  O'Dare  summed  up  judicially. 
"  Who  knows  of  any  way  out  ?  " 

"I'm  going  on  the  wallaby  again,"  repeated 
Allardyce,  "and  that's  as  good  a  way  as  any." 

The  actor  looked  intently  at  him.  "  But  is  it  wide 
enough  for  three  ?  "  he  asked,  with  evident  anxiety. 
"  Don't  joke  about  it,  Allardyce.  I'm  all  in  earnest." 

"  For  twenty,"  the  other  assured  him,  and  Corbyn 
also  looked  relieved.  "  Here  it  is.  Light  the  gas  and 
see  for  yourselves." 

He  drew  forth  an  apparently  empty  pocket-book, 
from  which  he  extracted  a  newspaper-clipping,  and 
handed  the  latter  to  O'Dare. 

Corbyn  struck  a  match  and  lit  a  stump  of  candle — 
"The  gas  supply's  cut  off,"  he  explained — where- 
after Dennis  read  aloud: 

"  '  Wanted — Twenty  young  men  for  extremely 
hazardous  exploring  expedition :  must  be  acquaint- 
ed with  the  use  of  fire-arms  and  be  able  to  stand 
severe  marching :  mounted :  ex-soldiers  preferred. 
Write  full  particulars  to  Barr,  Amberley  House, 
Mobile,  Ala.'  " 

He  rose,  and,  making  joyful  outcry,  pranced  about 
the  room. 

"  Now  isn't  that  a  lucky  strike ! "  he  cried.  "  Where 
did  you " 

"I  cut  it  out  of  Sunday's  paper,"  Allardyce  pro- 
ceeded, while  his  friends  listened  with  breathless 
interest,  "  and  wrote  the  amiable  Barr  that  afternoon. 

"Here's  his  reply." 


10         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

He  passed  to  O'Dare  a  telegram  from  Mobile 
which  said: 

"  Look  out  for  Rose,  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  Man- 
hattan, Saturday  morning  ten." 

And  that  was  all.    There  was  no  signature. 

"Anything  else?"  asked  Corbyn,  and  Allardyce 
shook  his  head. 

"To-morrow's  Saturday,"  said  O'Dare,  and  they 
all  fell  silent. 

The  candle  stump  burned  out,  and  still  they  sat 
there  smoking  contemplatively.  Outside,  in  Twenty- 
third  Street,  it  was  snowing.  The  surface-cars 
slipped  past  without  their  customary  whiz  and 
rattle.  There  was  no  rumble  of  wheels  on  the 
asphalt.  Only  a  subdued  murmur,  very  different 
from  the  ordinary  staccato  outcry  of  the  traffic 
there,  came  skywards  as  far  as  the  studio. 

"  It's  very  quiet  here,"  Allardyce  remarked  incon- 
sequently. 

"The  building  is  empty  after  business  hours  ex- 
cept for  this  floor,"  Corbyn  answered.  "Do  you 
think  there's  anything  in  that  advertisement  ?  " 

"It  reads  like  revolution,"  O'Dare  suggested,  and 
the  indifferent  Englishman  nodded  entire  agreement. 

"  And  what  if  it  does  ? "  the  Irishman  added 
doughtily,  his  mind  made  up. 

"A  revolution,  in  our  circumstances,  is  what  we 
want.  I'm  with  you,  Allardyce." 

"Wait  a  minute,"  begged  Corbyn,  and  left  the 


THE   ARTISTIC   ATMOSPHERE        11 

room.  He  hurried  downstairs  to  his  letter-box.  It 
was  still  empty,  and  the  last  mail  delivery  for  the 
day  had  been  made.  He  retraced  his  steps  with 
bent  head,  a  sudden,  desperate  resolution  taking 
concrete  shape  in  his  mind.  The  reason  therefor 
he  expressed  to  himself  in  words,  but  beneath  his 
breath,  as  he  climbed  the  steep,  dark  staircase. 

"  I  wouldn't  have  believed  it  of  her,"  he  whispered 
grievously.  "  I  was  poor  enough  before,  God  knows, 
but  I'm  bankrupt  now,  since  she's  deprived  me  of 
hope  and  faith." 

"Count  me  in,  too,"  he  told  his  friends  from  the 
doorway,  and  was  glad  that  the  gloom  hid  his  face 
from  them. 

"  That's  settled,  then,"  said  O'Dare  in  great  glee. 
"And  now  put  on  your  hats,  brave  hearts.  I  hear 
a  still,  small  voice  that  tells  me  it's  long  past  dinner- 
time. The  banquet  waits.  We'll  hie  us  to  a  restau- 
rant and  there  celebrate  this  most  suspicious " 

"You  cut  along,"  amended  Allardyce.  "Corbyn 

and  I "  He  choked  as  O'Dare,  having  laid 

hands  on  him  after  the  manner  of  a  professional 
strong  nlan,  propelled  him  towards  the  door. 

"The  dinners  are  on  me,  confound  you!"  cried 
that  impetuous  Thespian,  and  Corbyn  followed 
meekly. 

"  We'll  walk,"  explained  the  economical  capitalist 
as  they  stepped  out  upon  the  slippery  pavement  in 
the  direction  of  Sixth  Avenue,  "as  far  as  a  place  I 
know  where  they  fill  you  with  artificial  grape-juice, 


12          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

garlic,  and  spaghetti  for  forty  cents.  The  money 
that  we  save  in  car-fares  we'll  invest  in  cocktails 
lest  we  lose  it.  Come  right  in  here."  He  led  the 
way  into  a  cafe  before  they  could  demur. 

Two  men  pushed  out  through  the  swing-doors  and 
paused  to  let  them  pass.  Corbyn  nodded  coldly  to 
one  of  them,  who  returned  the  compliment  wTith  for- 
eign effusion. 

"Who's  your  shifty-looking  friend?  ''  asked 
O'Dare,  leaning  opulently  over  the  bar. 

"He  calls  himself  Gonzalez,"  the  artist  answered. 
"  That's  all  I  know  about  him  besides  the  annoying 
fact  that  he  seems  to  covet  my  studio.  He  came  in 
yesterday  to  ask  if  I'd  oblige  him  by  moving.  He's 
rented  the  one  opposite  and  requires  more  room." 

"I'd  hate  to  meet  him  on  a  desert  island,"  said 
O'Dare  dryly,  and  comforted  himself  with  a  cock- 
tail. "  I  wonder  why  he  wants  the  whole  house  to 
himself;  and  wears  a  wig  which  doesn't  match  his 
moustache  ?  " 

Five  minutes  more  took  them  to  a  bohemian 
haunt  in  Twenty-seventh  Street,  where  they  were 
warmly  greeted  by  the  careless  cosmopolitans  of 
their  acquaintance  whose  meagre  incomes  forced 
them  to  frequent  it.  The  diners  were  chiefly  for- 
eigners, actors,  artists,  musicians,  a  sprinkling  of 
tradespeople,  with  here  and  there  a  stray  couple  or 
quartette  of  curiosity-seekers,  their  minds  divided 
between  detestation  of  the  execrable  table-wine  and 
admiration  of  the  insouciance  with  which  Bohemia 


THE  ARTISTIC  ATMOSPHERE        13 

quaffed  it.  And  there  were  among  the  habitues  not 
a  few  men  of  fallen  fortune,  facing  the  squalid  pres- 
ent and  a  barren  future  to  the  full  as  cheerfully  as 
they  had  squandered  the  good  years  behind  them. 
The  meal  according  to  the  carte  was  an  imposing 
one  for  the  price,  but  actually  consisted  of  morsels: 
tunny-fish  and  olives,  soup,  a  fragment  of  malodorous 
bass,  a  mouthful  of  doubtful  veal,  spaghetti,  the 
wings  of  a  far-travelled  fowl,  a  spoonful  of  sloppy 
ice  cream,  black  coffee.  And,  although  Corbyn's 
father,  the  irascible  millionaire  who  had  bidden  his 
only  son  to  sink  or  swim  as  he  would  might  have 
held  up  his  hands  in  horror  at  the  mere  idea  of  such 
a  dinner,  that  did  not  prevent  his  undutiful  offspring 
from  attacking  with  appetite  all  that  came  his  way. 
While  AUardyce,  the  man  of  family,  a  far-travelled 
epicure,  was  far  too  frankly  hungry  for  question  or 
cavil.  Dennis  O'Dare  had  often  fared  far  worse  in 
his  experience  of  one-night  stands  on  the  long  road 
he  had  elected  to  follow.  He  took  whatever  he  could 
get,  and  asked  for  more. 

i  Tongues  wagged  and  babel  broke  loose  as  the 
tablecloths  were  cleared  away,  from  motives  of 
economy,  while  cheap  cigars  and  cheaper  cigarettes 
created  a  blue  cloud  before  which  all  the  strangers 
fled  in  fits  of  coughing.  The  double  doors  at  the 
inner  end  of  the  long  room  were  withdrawn,  one 
seated  himself  at  the  piano  in  the  alcove,  another 
brought  forth  from  a  safe  place  his  beloved  violin, 
and  on  the  silence  which  ensued  there  rose  such  music 


14          THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

as  men  may  make  who  have  sore  hearts  behind  their 
shabby  coats.  They  played  for  love  as  they  could 
never  play  for  payment,  and  the  lost  chord  was  theirs 
for  once.  It  was  a  dead  man's  requiem.  Corbyn 
had  told  them  that  Stephan  Florian  would  no  more 
eome  among  them,  and  they  had  loved  the  silent 
exile  for  the  magic  of  his  touch  upon  the  strings. 
He  would  be  sadly  missed  there. 

The  place  began  to  empty  quietly,  until  only  the 
three  friends  in  misfortune  remained.  They  stayed 
another  hour  for  the  sake  of  the  warmth  and  light 
and  comfort,  and  yet  another  that  they  might 
still  more  fully  discuss  Fifi  Florian's  future  and 
finances. 

Corbyn  had  been  her  brother's  only  intimate 
among  many  acquaintances  and  felt  himself  in  some 
degree  responsible  for  her  safe  guidance  in  the  great 
city  of  which  she  knew  so  little.  The  other  two  were 
more  than  willing  to  back  him  up  to  the  limit  of  their 
powers,  and,  before  they  finally  rose  to  go,  it  had 
been  arranged  that  they  should  mutually  seek  to 
enlist  the  sympathy  of  one  or  another  of  their  more 
reliable  women-friends  on  her  behalf,  that  they 
should,  if  it  were  humanly  possible,  act  as  her  bank- 
ers for  so  long  as  that  might  be  necessary. 

"And  if  she  can  handle  a  bow  anything  like  as 
well  as  her  brother  did,"  said  O'Dare  more  cheer- 
fully, "  it  won't  be  much  she'll  have  to  take  from  us. 
Music  of  that  sort's  worth  more  than  a  gold-mine. 

"  Now  where  am  I  going  to  sleep  to-night  ?  " 


THE  ARTISTIC   ATMOSPHERE         15 

"  Corbyn  can  put  us  both  up,"  Allardyce  answered 
hospitably,  and  they  returned  to  Twenty-third  Street 
through  the  snow. 

A  single  gas-jet  was  burning  dimly  on  the  studio 
stair,  and  Corbyn,  fumbling  with  frozen  fingers  for 
the  familiar  key-hole,  failed  to  find  it.  He  struck 
a  match  and  looked  again.  Then  they  stared  limply 
at  each  other  and  their  faces  fell. 

There  was  no  key-hole  in  the  heavy  iron  plate 
which  had  been  screwed  fast  to  the  wood  and  was 
securely  padlocked  to  the  staple  in  another  on  the 
doorpost. 

"They've  locked  us  out  of  house  and  home,"  said 
O'Dare  lugubriously.  Allardyce  grunted  his  dis- 
gust, while  Corbyn  frowned  and  bit  his  lip. 

"It's  too  bad!"  he  protested  wrathfully.  "I've 
been  too  busy  to  keep  count  of  the  days  of  grace  they 
granted  me,  and " 

"And  they've  evicted  you,  the  soulless  rascals!" 
concluded  O'Dare.  "They  seem  to  think  that  an 
artist  has  nothing  to  do  with  his  money  but  squander 
it  paying  rent!" 

The  card  which  had  served  Corbyn  for  name-plate 
had  been  torn  down. 

There  were  but  two  other  doors  on  the  top  land- 
ing, and  one  of  these  had  recently  been  embellished 
with  the  name  of  J.  Gonzalez  in  large  white  letters. 
No  light  was  visible  through  the  transom  above  it, 
and  that  individual  was  evidently  not  at  home,  but 
Corbyn  shook  his  fist  at  it  ere  he  turned  to  the  second. 


16  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"  I'll  bet  it  was  that  ugly  beast  who  egged  them  on 
to  turn  me  out  like  this,"  he  muttered.  "  He  wants 
my  room  and  this  is  how  he  means  to  get  it. 

"  Let's  see  if  my  things  are  in  the  lumber-room — 
I  have  the  key  here,  luckily. 

"  I  thought  so,"  he  continued  with  rising  anger. 
"  They've  shifted  everything  in  here  so  that  he  may 
take  possession  in  the  morning." 

"  How  would  it  do  to  camp  among  them  till  then  ?  " 
asked  Allardyce  and  peered  in  past  him.  The  wis- 
dom of  his  proposition  was  so  obvious  that  no  one 
gainsaid  it.  The  shelter  of  the  lumber-room  was 
certainly  preferable  to  the  unsheltered  street,  and 
O'Dare  had  already  calculated  their  remaining  cash 
capital  at  twenty  cents. 

There  were  abundant  blankets,  and  sufficient 
space  under  the  rafters  for  a  dozen  men.  Cold 
moonlight  flooded  the  garret.  They  closed  the  door 
and  made  themselves  as  comfortable  as  might  be. 

"I  only  hope  Gonzalez  won't  shout  fire  and 
thieves  when  he  hears  Denny  snoring,"  whispered 
the  Englishman.  "It  would  be  deuced  awkward 
to  be  asked  for  explanations  regarding  this  picnic, 
and  still  more  so  to  be  turned  out  into  the  snow. 

"Phew!  but  I'm  sleepy.  Look  not  upon  the 
wine  when  it  is  red  ink,  Corbyn,  my  boy.  That  was 
pure  laudanum  we  had  to  dinner,  Denny. 

"  Let's  turn  in.  There's  nothing  else  to  do,  and 
we'll  be  all  the  fresher  for  an  early  start  after  a  good 
sleep." 


THE   ARTISTIC   ATMOSPHERE        17 

He  rolled  his  outer  garments  up  in  the  shape  of  a 
rough  pillow  with  all  the  indifference  of  an  old  cam- 
paigner, removed  his  shoes,  and  lay  down  quite 
contentedly. 

"  Call  me  in  time  for  breakfast,"  he  requested  in 
a  drowsy  voice,  and  closed  his  eyes. 

Corbyn  was  prompt  to  imitate  him,  and,  as  soon 
as  O'Dare  also  had  accommodated  himself  to  cir- 
cumstances, there  was  no  more  said. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  other  two  men  were 
slumbering  peacefully,  but  the  less  fortunate  O'Dare 
could  not  achieve  a  like  result.  There  seemed  to 
be  nothing  but  knots  in  the  particular  planks  he 
had  unwillingly  chosen  for  a  couch,  and  a  constant 
turning  over  only  induced  a  fresh  crop. 

"This  is  most  cursedly  uncomfortable!"  he  said 
crossly  to  himself  after  an  endless  hour  of  it,  and  sat 
up,  shivering,  to  rearrange  his  coverings. 

The  sound  of  shuffling  footsteps  on  the  stairway 
caught  his  attention  and  he  leaned  forward,  elbows 
on  knees,  to  listen. 


CHAPTER  II 

BEATRIZ 

THE  other  two  were  sleeping  very  tranquilly, 
heads  buried  beneath  their  blankets.  A  mouse 
which  scuttled  along  the  wainscot  seemed  to  make 
much  unnecessary  noise,  and  O'Dare,  considering 
attentively  the  echoes  from  below,  felt  cold  and 
lonely  as  these  became  more  audible. 

There  was  more  than  one  person  ascending. 
There  were  two:  two  men.  There  were  more  than 
two ;  but  the  third  was  not  necessarily  a  man.  There 
were  no  more  than  three,  all  told. 

"Two  men  and  a  woman,"  he  deduced  inge- 
niously, "with  rather  more  supper  than  they  can 
conveniently  carry  on  an  even  keel.  They're 
not  very  conversational:  I  wish  they'd  say  some- 
thing." 

His  wish  was  not  granted,  however;  and  the  foot- 
steps halted,  so  that  there  was  funereal  stillness  for 
a  space.  The  ticking  of  his  watch  was  like  the 
blows  of  a  trip-hammer.  He  could  hear  his  heart 
beat. 

"They've  reached  the  floor  below,"  he  calculated. 
"A  festive  sort  of  owl  our  Italian  friend!" 

18 


BEATRIZ  19 

Suspicions  of  a  silent  scuffle  reached  his  straining 
ears,  and  then  the  nearer  impression  of  slow  but 
steadier  climbing.  There  were  only  two  pairs  of 
feet  now,  and  they  seemed  disproportionately 
heavier. 

"They're  sober  enough,"  thought  the  listener. 

At  the  top  of  the  stair  they  stopped  again,  and  he 
heard  a  hoarse  whisper.  Some  one  came  forward, 
and,  having  stealthily  turned  the  handle  of  the 
locked  door  behind  which  he  was  cowering,  re- 
tired, apparently  satisfied,  to  insert  a  key  in  that 
adjoining. 

A  match  was  struck,  a  gas-burner  lit,  and  then 
three  people  entered  the  studio  of  J.  Gonzalez: 
O'Dare  believed  that  one  of  them  had  done  so 
under  some  compulsion,  although  without  spoken 
protest. 

He  did  not  quite  know  what  to  do  next.  It  would 
not  have  been  wise  to  wake  the  others,  lest  by  some 
startled  exclamation  they  should  apprise  the  enemy 
of  their  presence.  He  did  not  feel  like  lying  down 
again  and  letting  ill  alone. 

He  had  no  wish  to  interfere  in  what  did  not  con- 
cern him,  but "  I'll  sit  up  for  a  while  and  see 

what  happens,"  he  resolved,  and  rubbed  his  eyes  as 
there  shot  a  ray  of  light  from  a  crack  in  the  plaster 
of  the  partition  facing  him.  Then  he  rose  cautiously, 
and,  creeping  towards  it  in  his  stocking-soles, 
peered  through. 

The  adjacent  room  was  little  larger  than  a  cup- 


20          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

board  and  could  boast  no  windows.  Its  walls  were 
bare.  There  was  no  carpet  on  the  floor.  The 
furniture  consisted  of  a  single  arm-chair. 

Beyond  it  through  an  open  door  was  a  more  com- 
modious chamber,  but  almost  empty  also,  in  so  far 
as  O'Dare  could  judge. 

It  was  Gonzalez  who  had  lit  the  gas.  He  was 
bareheaded,  but  wore  a  fur-lined  greatcoat,  the 
upturned  collar  of  which  covered  half  his  face.  He 
glanced  about  him  and  then  upwards  before  inviting 
his  companions  in. 

"You  must  have  been  mistaken,  Schweitzer," 
O'Dare  heard  him  mutter.  "  There's  no  sign  of  any 
trespass,  and,  as  you  know,  the  studio  opposite  is 
already  empty.  I  saw  to  that.  The  lumber-room's 
locked.  I  think  we're  quite  safe  from  outside 
interference." 

"There  are  fresh  foot-prints  on  the  stair  since  I 
went  out,"  answered  a  sullen  voice  from  the  next 
room,  "  and " 

"Oh,  cease  your  croaking!"  cried  Gonzalez  ir- 
ritably. "The  janitor  no  doubt  came  up  to  make 
the  other  door  fast. 

"Come  this  way,  senorita,  if  you  please.  Pardon 
the  poverty  of  my  apartment,  but,  after  all,  it  may 
serve  well  enough  for  waiting-room." 

A  woman  appeared  in  the  doorway,  a  young 
woman,  almost  a  girl,  and,  pausing  for  an  instant 
on  the  threshold  to  look  about  her,  came  bravely 
forward. 


BEATRIZ  21 

Her  hands  were  bound  behind  her,  her  lips  sealed 
by  a  silken  handkerchief,  but  the  bandage  with  which 
they  had  also  blinded  her  had  been  loosened  from 
about  her  eyes;  and  these  spoke  of  overwhelming 
anger. 

She  crossed  to  the  chair,  and  sat  down.  It  seemed 
to  O'Dare,  looking  on,  that  she  did  not  stand  in  any 
awe  of  her  captors. 

Gonzalez  gave  way  before  her,  and  she  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  lean,  dwarf -like,  dried-up  mannikin  of 
furtive  mien  and  most  unpleasant  personality:  "A 
dangerous  little  divil  that!"  said  Dennis  O'Dare  to 
himself. 

"You  see,  senorita,"  the  former  remarked  with  a 
wave  of  the  hand,  "that  it  will  be  quite  useless  tt> 
attempt  escape.  We  are  alone  here,  at  the  top  of 
an  empty  house. 

"  If  you  will  grant  me  your  solemn  promise  not  to 
cause  any  disturbance,  I  shall  be  glad  to  remove 
the  gag  you  have  forced  me  to  employ.  Please  nod 
if  you  agree." 

She  appeared  to  consider  for  a  moment,  and  then 
accepted  his  condition  with  a  haughty  inclination. 
He  stepped  behind  her,  unloosed  her  remaining 
bonds,  and  came  forward  again. 

"  I  trust  you  absolutely,"  he  reminded  her,  and 
braced  himself  to  meet  the  storm  of  her  displeasure. 

She  did  not  speak  at  once,  but,  when  she  did,  he 
shrank  away  with  an  uneasy  movement. 

"There  is  that  between  us  now,  Gonzalez,"  she 


22  THE    GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

said,  in  a  quiet,  level  voice,  as  if  addressing  a  delin- 
quent servant,  "which  will  one  day  be  wiped  out 
very  thoroughly — and  you  with  it." 

The  veiled  threat  was  brief,  but  served  its  purpose 
better  than  more  voluble  denunciation. 

She  looked  past  him  at  his  companion,  but  did 
not  deign  to  address  that  evil-doer.  Her  count  was 
with  the  chief  criminal:  with  his  accomplices  she 
need  not  now  concern  herself. 

"  May  I  remind  the  senorita  that  I  am  acting  under 
instructions  from  His  Excellency,"  Gonzalez  ven- 
tured in  a  propitiatory  tone,  "and  that,"  he  added 
more  malignantly,  "  she  came  here  without 

"  You  trapped  me  very  cleverly,"  she  interrupted, 
and  her  eyes  flashed  again.  "  That  also  I  shall  not 
forget." 

"I  could  think  of  no  other  way,"  he  answered 
deprecatingly.  "His  Excellency's  orders  were  most 
stringent,  and,  had  I  failed,  I  should  have  incurred 
heavy  penalty.  The  senorita  knows  that  I  serve  a 
hard  task-master.  It  is  with  him  that  she  should 
cast  accounts — not  with  his  servants." 

"  Enough,"  she  said.   "  Please  leave  me,  if  you  will." 

He  bowed  obediently,  desirous  to  propitiate  her. 
"I  trust  you,"  he  repeated,  "  since  you  have  pledged 
your  word. 

"Step  outside,  Schweitzer." 

His  underling  obeyed,  but  he  himself  still  lingered. 
O'Dare  judged  that  he  was  anxious  to  make  his 
peace  with  her. 


BEATRIZ  23 

"The  story  of  the  accident  was  false,"  he  said. 
"  It  was  part  of  our  plan.  The  senorita's  friend  is 
safe  and  well,  so  far  as  I  know." 

She  took  no  notice  of  the  information. 

"I  trust  you,  Dona  Beatriz,"  he  once  more  re- 
minded her  impressively,  and  shut  her  in,  alone.' 
Then  her  eyes  brightened  with  relief,  not  altogether 
due  to  his  withdrawal.  His  news  had  evidently 
been  of  much  more  import  to  her  than  she  was  willing 
to  admit  to  him. 

She  rose,  that  she  might  reach  more  easily  the 
pocket  of  her  expensively  simple  gown,  but  her  hand 
came  out  of  it  empty.  She  swept  her  skirts  to  one 
side  with  a  silken  swish,  and  looked  down  as  if  in 
search  of  something  she  might  have  dropped.  There 
was  nothing  upon  the  floor  but  a  pair  of  small  feet 
trimly  shod  in  patent  leather.  She  sank  back  into 
her  seat  with  an  expression  of  puzzled  disappoint- 
ment, and  sat  still,  thinking,  one  elbow  on  an  arm 
of  the  chair,  chin  on  palm.  O'Dare  gazed  at  her 
as  though  she  had  bewitched  him. 

Her  young  beauty  was  sufficient  excuse. 

She  was 'fair,  of  the  north,  whose  snowdrops  and 
roses  had  lent  her  pure  face  their  most  tender  tints. 
Her  troubled  eyes  were  of  misty  blue,  underneath 
long  lashes.  The  curve  of  the  crimson  cupid's-bow 
that  her  lips  made,  compressed  as  they  were,  would 
have  drawn  an  anchorite  from  his  desert,  and  yet 
the  aptest  description  that  Dennis  O'Dare  could 
supply  from  a  memory  well  stocked  with  such 


24  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

quotations  was  the  old  one  of  "  sweet,  cold,  chaste 
lips,  a  mouth  that  had  not  yet  dreamed  of  kisses, 
most  honest  eyes.' 
And  her  hair, 

*'Hair,  such  a  wonder  of  flix  and  floss, 
Freshness  and  fragrance — floods  of  it,  too!" 

her  hair  was  loose  under  her  broad,  black  hat.  A 
curl  as  thick  as  his  wrist  flowed  distractingly  past 
the  blue  bow  beneath  a  chin  curved  to  that  true 
oval  which  artists  love  but  so  seldom  see.  She  was 
so  unconsciously  lovely  in  her  abandon  that  sudden 
compunction  for  his  espial  smote  the  enraptured 
Dennis.  He  blushed  in  the  darkness,  bethought 
himself  of  how  he  might  serve  her. 

"  I  must  have  a  word  with  her  before  I  wake  those 
Rip  van  Winkles,"  he  told  himself,  only  half 
repentant,  and,  putting  his  lips  to  the  opening,  he 
whistled  softly. 

She  did  not  seem  to  hear.  He  tried  again,  a  little 
louder,  and,  looking  through,  saw  her  scanning  the 
blank  wall  with  anxious  glance. 

He  made  a  megaphone  of  his  two  hands,  and,  "  I'm 
a  friend,"  he  whispered  sibilantly. 

She  overcame  her  startled  impulse  to  call  out,  and 
turned  one  shell-like  ear  towards  the  spot  behind 
which  he  was  standing. 

"Draw  your  chair  closer  so  that  I  can  speak  to 
you,"  he  begged,  but  she  did  not  at  once  comply. 
She  rose  instead,  and  took  a  turn  or  two  about  her  cell. 


BEATRIZ  25 

A  light  knock  sounded  on  the  door.  "  Come  in," 
she  said  indifferently.  It  was  partly  opened  and 
Gonzalez'  face  appeared. 

"The  senorita  is  restless,"  he  remarked  suspi- 
ciously, and  she  stopped  short. 

"  Must  I  sit  still  ?  "  she  asked  with  assumed  petu- 
lance, and,  pushing  her  chair  back  to  the  wall,  sank 
into  it  again  while  O'Dare  grinned  delightedly  in 
the  darkness. 

"  She's  wise,"  he  told  himself. 

The  brown  wig  disappeared,  the  door  was  shut. 
She  leaned  back  against  the  cracked  plaster  with  a 
gesture  of  weariness,  and  put  a  hand  to  her  lips 
lest  any  one  should  see  them  move. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  she  inquired  eagerly. 

"  My  name  is  O'Dare,"  explained  that  gentleman. 
"Dennis  O'Dare.  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for 
you  ?  There  are  three  of  us  in  here,  and  we're 
more  than  a  match  for " 

"Are  the  other  two  listening?"  she  interrupted. 

"They're  sound  asleep." 

"Please,  please,  don't  wake  them,"  she  implored, 
"and  promise  me  that  you  will  tell  them  nothing 
of How  long  have  you  been  watching  ?  " 

"I've  seen  the  whole  show." 

"  You  won't  disclose  what  you've  seen,  then,  will 
you  ?  I  ask  it  as  a  great  favour. 

"Apart  from  that  there's  nothing  you  can  do  for 

me,  unless "  She  paused  reflectively.  "  If 

you  would  care " 


26  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

"Of  course  I'd  care,"  the  impetuous  Irishman 
assured  her  gallantly. 

"I  came  here  under  a  misapprehension,  and  the 
two  men  you  saw  seized  me  as  soon  as  I  entered 
the  door  downstairs,  and — I've  lost  a  letter  I  had 
with  me.  I  don't  want  them  or  any  one  else  to  get 
hold  of  it.  I  must  have  dropped  it  just  at  the  door. 
Do  you  think  you  could  find  it  for  me — without 
letting  any  one  know  ?  " 

Dennis  hesitated,  and  was  lost. 

"I'll  find  it  for  you,"  he  asserted  positively,  and 
had  his  reward  in  a  shy  glance  of  gratitude  from 
two  entrancing  eyes. 

"  I'll  find  it  for  you,  and  I'll  fetch  a  policeman  up 
at  the  same  time.  I'll  have  those  two  arrested  so 
neatly  that  they'll  scarcely  notice " 

"Oh,  no!  Please,  no,"  she  urged  desperately. 
"You  mustn't  do  that.  I'm  in  no  danger  and — 
you  promised  me.  You  mustn't  say  a  word  of  what 
you've  seen  to  any  one  at  all.  It's  to  avoid  such 
needless  scandal  that  I've  submitted  to  so  much, 
and — you  won't  betray  me,  will  you?" 

Her  swift,  appealing  look  was  too  much  for 
O'Dare.  He  did  not  understand,  but  he  was  alto- 
gether at  her  service. 

"  I'll  carry  out  your  orders,"  he  assured  her.  "  I'm 
off.  If  those  two  in  front  make  any  move  toward 
my  friends  in  here,  will  you  make  noise  enough  to 
wake  them?  I'll  have  to  leave  the  door  un- 
locked." 


BEATRIZ  27 

"I'll  warn  them  in  time,"  she  assented.  "I'll 
sit  here  till  you  return.  You  won't  be  long  ?  " 

"Trust  me  for  that,"  he  finished.  "I'll  be  back 
before " 

He  felt  his  way  along  the  wall  as  far  as  the  door, 
found  the  key  where  Corbyn  had  laid  it,  and  achiev- 
ed a  stealthy  egress.  From  within  the  studio  of  J. 
Gonzalez  sounded  gruff  voices,  but  otherwise  all 
was  still.  He  crept  downstairs,  and,  when  a  step 
creaked,  stopped  to  listen  fearfully  but  without 
result. 

There  were  no  lights  on  the  lower  landings;  the 
hallway  was  black  and  dark.  He  went  on  blindly, 
toward  the  door,  feeling  for  a  match,  his  head  too 
full  of  the  grateful  glance  the  girl  had  given  him 
to  hold  any  doubts  as  to  the  wisdom  of  his  enter- 
prise, and  hoping  for  at  least  a  single  smile  when 
he  should  have  accomplished  his  errand. 

"I  would  my  name  were  Benedick  since  hers 
is "  he  was  muttering,  when  his  romantic  mus- 
ings were  abruptly  put  an  end  to.  A  blanket-like 
covering  descended  upon  his  head,  so  muffling  it  that 
he  could  not  cry  out,  his  arms  were  pinioned  from 
behind,  his  ankles  held  fast  ina  vise-like  grip.  When 
he  at  last  got  his  mouth  open  wide  enough  to  howl 
for  help,  his  outcry  all  but  deafened  himself  and  did 
not  disturb  his  captors. 

They  bound  him  with  convenient  cords,  and, 
lifting  him  bodily,  carried  him  back  upstairs, 
treating  him  none  too  tenderly  by  the  way:  but 


28  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

he  was  able  to  check  their  course  as  far  as  Gon- 
zalez' door,  within  which  he  was  conveyed  and 
quietly  deposited  on  the  floor.  He  could  hear  the 
soft  thud-thud  of  .several  feet  but  nothing  else, 
until  rough  hands  removed  in  part  the  wrap  about 
his  shoulders,  thrust  a  rude  gag  between  his  teeth, 
and,  finally,  uncovered  his  face. 

Looking  irately  upwards  his  eyes  met  those  of 
Gonzalez,  who  was  inspecting  him  with  a  blankly 
puzzled  expression.  Schweitzer  stood  at  one  side, 
head  poised,  very  like  a  serpent  about  to  strike. 
Opposite  him  there  was  a  group  whose  faces  O'Dare 
could  not  recall,  but  none  of  them  impressed  him 
favourably.  "Black  Hands,"  was  his  mental 
summary  of  their  most  probable  profession. 

They  seemed  to  be  discussing  him  unfavourably 
also,  but  in  low  whispers  and  in  a  language  which  he 
did  not  understand;  suddenly  Gonzalez  gave  some 
order  and  all  but  he  and  Schweitzer  left  the  room. 

The  two  took  hold  of  their  prisoner  and  flung 
him  to  one  side  under  a  table,  out  of  sight.  To 
hide  him  more  completely  they  drew  down  a  cor- 
ner of  the  cloth  which  covered  it. 

He  lay  there  helpless  while  Gonzalez  once  more 
knocked  and  entered  the  inner  chamber.  The 
girl  within  came  forth  reluctantly.  Her  gaoler  turned 
tile  gas  out,  followed  her,  and  locked  the  door. 

"The  senorita's  carriage  waits,"  he  said.  "If 
she  will  swear  to  keep  the  strictest  silence  by  the 
way  there  will  be  no  need  to  use  this;  but  other- 


BEATRIZ  29 

wise "  He  held  up  the  silk  handkerchief  and 

pointed  to  the  rug  which  had  already  served  to 
silence  O'Dare.  She  flushed  up  hotly. 

"See  that  you  do  not  try  my  patience  too  far," 
she  said,  and  there  was  that  in  her  tone  which  cowed 
him.  But  he  was  dogged  in  his  determination  to 
run  no  risk. 

"The  senorita  will  go  with  us — quietly?"  he 
demanded. 

"I  will  go  with  you  quietly,"  she  replied. 

He  held  the  door  for  her,  and  she  passed  out 
with  a  reluctant  backward  glance.  Two  of  the 
men  there  led  the  way  downstairs:  Gonzalez  fol- 
lowed at  her  heels.  No  ghosts  could  have  moved 
more  noiselessly. 

Schweitzer  turned  hurriedly  to  the  table  and  took 
from  one  of  his  pockets  a  tiny  phial.  He  held  it 
up  to  the  light  which  showed  it  full  of  a  thick,  colour- 
less liquid.  He  shook  it,  and  it  clouded  over. 

He  tiptoed  to  the  door  and  called  in  the  remainder 
of  Gonzalez'  men,  who,  at  a  word  from  him,  took 
hold  of  O'Dare  and  lifted  him  from  his  corner. 

One  of  them  gripped  him  cruelly  by  the  throat, 
another  loosed  the  gag,  and  Schweitzer  deftly  emp- 
tied the  contents  of  the  phial  into  his  open  mouth. 
He  could  not  cry  out,  was  quite  powerless,  and,  as 
the  pressure  upon  his  windpipe  relaxed  for  a  short 
second,  he  swallowed  wildly  the  sweet,  sickly  potion. 

He  suffered  all  the  pains  of  purgatory  for  a  space 
while  they  stood  watching  him  indifferently.  A 


30  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

bluish  pallor  overspread  his  features,  his  jaws  re- 
laxed, his  head  drooped  limply  to  one  side.  A  quick, 
convulsive  shudder  shook  him  from  head  to  foot, 
and  after  that  his  straining  limbs  were  still. 

"  Untie  him,"  Schweitzer  ordered  abruptly.  "  He's 
safe  enough  now,  and  we're  to  take  him  along  with 
us." 


CHAPTER  III 

THE    LANGUAGE   OF   FLOWERS 

A  RAT  of  wintry  sunshine,  streaming  through  the 
skylight  overhead,  fell  full  on  Corbyn's  face  and 
woke  him  more  effectually  than  any  alarm  clock 
would.  He  sat  up  blinking  and  looked  about  him. 

Then  he  shook  Allardyce  out  of  sound  sleep. 
"Where's  Denny?"  he  demanded. 

"  Eh — yow-w-w  ?  "  answered  Allardyce,  yawning. 

"Where's  Denny?" 

"Where's  Denny?"  Allardyce  parroted  stupidly. 

"Why "     He  stumbled  to  his  feet  and  stared 

at  his  companion.    "  Why " 

They  stood  there  gazing  at  each  other. 

"  He's  gone ! "  cried  Allardyce. 

"That's  evident,"  Corbyn  retorted  somewhat 
crossly. 

"  I  wouldn't  have  believed  it,"  said  the  Englishman. 

"  Nor  I,"  the  American  agreed.  "  I  don't  believe 
it  either.  Something  has  happened  him.  He 
wouldn't  bolt  without  a  word  to  us." 

"The  door's  unlocked,"  whispered  the  other 
after  assuring  himself  of  the  fact.  "  What  the  devil 
does  it  all  mean  ?  " 

31 


32  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

He  looked  blankly  at  Corbyn  again.  Corbyn 
looked  back  at  him.  They  were  both  dumfoundered 
by  their  friend's  defection. 

"  What  the  devil  does  it  all  mean  ?  "  he  once  more 
ejaculated  and  drew  out  his  watch.  "  It's  half  past 
seven  too.  Time  to  strike  camp  if  we  don't  want 
to  be  caught  here." 

"Yes,  we'd  better  get  a  move  on,"  Corbyn 
assented.  "I've  shaving  tackle  somewhere  about, 
and  we  can  snatch  a  wash  at  the  tap  outside.  We'll 
have  to  breakfast  on  water  also  unless  our  moneyed 
member  returns  to  the  fold  in  time." 

They  made  a  hasty  toilet  without  further  conver- 
sation, and,  ten  minutes  later,  left  their  temporary 
quarters,  Allardyce  no  less  neat  and  correct  than 
usual,  Corbyn  equally  well  groomed. 

A  sudden  inspiration  caused  Corbyn  to  stop  at 
Gonzalez'  door  as  they  passed  it.  "  I'll  knock  and 
ask  if  any  one's  been  inquiring  for  me,"  he  explained 
in  a  low  tone.  "He'll  think  we've  come  up  from 
the  street,  and  we'll  find  out  if  he's  at  home."  But 
all  his  knocking  elicited  no  response.  The  studio 
seemed  to  be  deserted.  On  his  way  out  he  looked 
into  his  letter-box,  for  the  last  time.  It  was  quite 
empty. 

He  followed  his  friend  with  a  sigh,  and  for  two 
long  hours  they  paced  the  pavements,  discussing 
O'Dare's  most  mysterious  disappearance.  With 
that  to  occupy  their  minds  they  did  not  miss  the 
morning  meal.  But  when,  toward  ten  o'clock, 


THE  LANGUAGE   OF  FLOWERS       S3 

they  turned  along  Fifth  Avenue  to  the  Hotel,  they 
were  no  nearer  any  satisfactory  conclusion  as  to 
its  cause.  The  only  decision  they  could  arrive  at  was 
that,  all  things  considered,  it  would  not  be  advisable 
to  raise  any  hue  and  cry  for  the  missing  man. 

"No  sign  of  him  here,"  said  Corbyn  disappoint- 
edly as  they  went  down  the  corridor  together.  "  I 
thought  he  might  perhaps  turn  up  at  ten,  since  he 
knew  where  to  find  us." 

"I  wish  he  had,"  answered  Allardyce.  "How- 
ever, we'll  hear  what  our  good  friend  Rose  has  to 
say  in  the  mean  time,  and  then  we'll  be  free  to  find 
Denny  if  he's  to  be  found." 

The  spacious  vestibule  was  thronged.  They" 
passed  observantly  from  group  to  group,  seeking 
some  sign  whereby  they  might  identify  the  object 
of  their  quest. 

"We'd  better  look  out  for  him  first,  as  instructed," 
observed  Allardyce.  "If  we  can't  find  him  other- 
wise, we'll  have  to  ask  at  the  office,  but 

"  Gad ! "  exclaimed  Corbyn.  "  If  that  isn't Of 

course  it  is!  Excuse  me  a  moment,  Allardyce." 

His  friend  followed  him  with  his  eyes  to  where  a 
man  was  standing  by  himself,  his  back  against  a 
pillar,  scanning  the  passers-by  without  apparent 
curiosity.  A  man  of  slightly  less  than  middle  height, 
but  very  straight  and  well  set  up. 

His  irregular  features,  impressed  with  a  blandly 
whimsical  melancholy,  seemed  in  some  degree 
familiar  to  Allardyce  who  started  as  he  observed 
3 


34  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

that  the  stranger  was  idly  twirling  a  red  rose  be- 
tween two  fingers. 

Corbyn  bore  down  upon  him  with  outstretched 
hand.  "Hullo,  Meggs!"  he  cried  with  all  the 
fervour  that  can  be  compressed  into  that  abrupt 
Anglo-Saxon  apostrophe. 

The  other's  outward  gravity  gave  place  to  an 
instantaneous  and  whole-hearted  grin  of  pleasure. 
He  started  forward,  gripping  the  hand  held  out  to 
him  with  such  intensity  of  welcome  that  Corbyn 
winced. 

"Great  Caesar's  ghost!"  he  ejaculated.  "Phil 
Corbyn — of  all  people!  Where  under  heaven  did 
you  drop  from  ?  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  Tell 
me  all  your  news.  It  must  be  three  years  since 
we've  met,  and  I'm  not  going  to  let  you  go  till  I've 
heard  the  last  of  it.  You'll  stop  and  breakfast  with 
me.  I'm  hungry  for  some  one  to  talk  to,  and,  say! 
Phil.  If  you're  open  for  a  sporting  event,  I've  a 

proposition  to Give  me  five  minutes  more 

here  and  we'll  go  inside.  Then  I'll  explain." 

Corbyn  laughed,  no  less  pleased  than  he  over 
their  chance  encounter. 

"  I've  a  friend  with  me,"  he  said  doubtfully,  "  and 
— what  are  you  twiddling  that  rose  for,  Jerry  ?  This 
isn't  the  Martha  Washington." 

Mr.  Meggs  groaned  lugubriously. 

"Phil,"  he  answered  with  great  solemnity,  "I'm 
broken-hearted.  I'll  tell  you  why,  presently.  The 
beautiful  language  of  flowers  I'm  using  in  the  for- 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF  FLOWERS       35 

lorn  hope  of  finding  even  one  man  with  enough 
sense  to  see  past  his  own  nose,  and  because  I  couldn't 
contrive  any  better  scheme.  I'm  not  half  brainy 
enough  myself.  That's  what's  the  matter  with 
me." 

"You've  found  two  right  away,  all  the  same," 
returned  Corbyn  contentedly,  and  signalled  to 
Allardyce  that  he  should  join  them. 

"This  is  Ainslie  Allardyce,  Englishman,  Jerry, 
and  he's  the  first.  I'm  the  other.  Allardyce,  this 
is  Gerald  Meggs." 

"  The  polo-player  ?"  said  Allardyce  as  they  shook 
hands.  "Thought  I  knew  your  face-  You  dined 
with  our  mess  at  Woolwich  one  night  a  good  many 
years  ago  after  a  hard  game.  Met  you  there,  but  I 
don't  suppose  you  remember  me." 

"This  is  the  top  note!"  Meggs  declared  in  an 
ecstasy  of  satisfaction.  "Of  course  I  remember 
you.  I've  got  the  mark  of  your  stick  on  my  shin- 
bone  yet  to  keep  me  from  forgetting  you.  I  never 
enjoyed  a  game  more.  And  it's  a  godsend  to  me  to 
see  you  both  here.  Come  in  to  breakfast  and  I'll 
tell  you  all  about  everything.  You  haven't  fed  yet, 
have  you  ?  " 

"  How  about  that  rose  ?  "  Allardyce  asked  in  turn. 

"That's  what  we're  going  to  talk  about,"  Meggs 
replied.  "  I'm  from  Barr  of  Mobile.  But  the  rose 
is  my  own  idea." 

They  found  a  secluded  corner  in  the  breakfast 
room,  and,  over  the  lavish  repast  he  ordered,  ar- 


36  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

rived  by  degrees 'at  a  mutual  understanding.  They 
could  all  trust  each  other  without  preliminary  in- 
quiries. Corbyn  had  been  on  intimate  terms  with 
their  gratified  host  since  they  had  been  school- 
boys together,  and  could  therefore  vouch  for  each 
of  the  others.  But  that  was  unnecessary,  since 
Allardyce  had  been  in  the  British  army,  and  Meggs 
had  met  him  at  his  own  mess.  A  perfect  under- 
standing prevailed. 

"What's  driven  you  into  the  revolutionist  busi- 
ness, Jerry  ? "  demanded  Corbyn  as  they  sat  down. 
"You  surely  haven't  got  through  ah1  your  money 
since  I  saw  you  last!" 

"The  money  still  keeps  coming  in  faster  than  I 
can  spend  it,"  Megggs  declared  dismally,  and  hesi- 
tated for  a  moment.  "I'm  broken-hearted,  Phil. 
That's  what's  the  matter  with  me,  and  I  may  as 
well  tell  you  frankly,  since  it's  the  sole  and  sufficient 
excuse  for  the  tangle  I've  got  myself  into.  I  fell  in 
with  the  dream  of  my  life  last  time  I  was  in  London, 
and — she  turned  me  down.  It's  no  laughing  matter 
either,  confound  you!  You'd  feel  very  sorry  for 
me  if  you'd  seen  her.  Barr  of  Mobile  means  busi- 
ness, too,  and  but  for  her  I  wouldn't  be  mixed  up 
with  him." 

"  What's  his  game  ? "  Allardyce  inquired,  very 
busy  with  bacon  and  eggs. 

"There  you  have  me.  It's  a  surprise  packet  for 
somebody.  I  met  him  in  New  Orleans — when  I 
left  London  I  ran  up  and  down  the  world  like  a  dog 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF   FLOWERS       37 

with  a  tin  can  tied  to  its  tail — and,  as  soon  as  he  had 
sized  me  up,  he  talked  to  me  so  cunningly  that  I 
consented  to  run  this  show  for  him.  I  was  feeling 
pretty  cheap  at  the  time,  and  of  course  I  jumped 
at  the  chance  of  a  little  healthy  excitement.  I'd 
be  jumping  still,  I  suppose,  if  I  hadn't  found  out  a 
thing  or  two  about  the  same  Barr.  He's  one  of  those 
exported  Scotchmen  who  leave  their  consciences 
behind  them  in  the  old  country,  and  they're  about 
the  most  dangerous  devils  I  know. 

"All  he'd  tell  me  was  that  it  will  be  a  risky  ven- 
ture. If  we  get  nipped  by  the  way,  there  won't  be 
much  chance  for  us.  It's  outside  civilisation,  you 
know,  and  we  leave  the  Stars  and  Stripes  behind 
when  we  sail.  I'm  to  take  twenty  men  down  to  San 
Benito,  under  sealed  orders,  when  he  says,  *  Go ! ' 
and  act  on  these  orders  when  I  get  there.  That's 
his  side  of  the  question,  and  I  signed." 

"It  sounds  interesting,"  Allardyce  commented, 
and  helped  himself  to  more  coffee. 

"They're  having  the  time  of  their  lives  scrapping 
with  each  other  in  San  Benito  at  this  identical  mo- 
ment," continued  Meggs.  "  But  that  doesn't  mean 
that  we're  going  to  liberate  any  oppressed  republics. 
No,  sir.  I  made  Barr  swear  by  all  he  holds  holy 
that  we're  to  have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  any 
of  their  private  dog-fights.  Ours  is  one  of  those 
high-class  side-shows  which  are  warranted  not  to 
bring  a  blush  to  the  cheek  of  innocence.  If  we  end 
up  with  our  backs  against  a  brick  wall  and  bandages 


38  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

over  our  eyes,  it  won't  be  because  we've  mistaken 
our  mission  in  life  to  that  extent.  And  the  only 
weak  point  in  the  whole  programme  is  that  old 
Barr  is  a  most  monumental  liar." 

"But  can't  you  find  out "  Corbyn  inter- 
rupted, and  Meggs  held  up  a  protesting  hand. 

"Half  a  minute,  Phil,"  he  requested.  "Let  me 
get  it  all  off  my  chest  in  one  spasm.  What  do  you 
think  I'm  chasing  about  New  York  with  a  blush- 
rose  in  my  hand  for,  anyhow !  I've  been  working 
my  mind  double  shifts  of  late.  That's  what's  the 
matter  with  me.  And  what  I've  decided  to  do  is 
to  lay  a  sheet-anchor  to  windward  of  my  slippery 
friend  while  the  fair  weather  lasts.  I'm  willing  to 
go  there  blind  myself,  but  I  am  not  going  to  throw 
away  twenty  other  men's  lives  to  no  purpose.  I'll 
tell  you  what  my  idea  is.  I'm  going  to  form  a 
syndicate  to  insure  us  all  a  square  deal. 

"Now,  how  are  you  fellows  fixed?  Will  you 
come  in  with  me  ?  " 

"I'll  take  five  cards,"  said  Allardyce  casually. 
"My  present  hand  isn't  good  enough  to  go  on  with." 

Corbyn  merely  nodded,  and  Meggs  whistled  in 
great  glee.  A  waiter  came  forward  in  haste.  He 
sent  the  man  off  for  cigars,  and  resumed  in  a 
quieter  key. 

"There's  a  boat  sails  for  La  Boca  this  afternoon. 
How  would  it  suit  you  to  drift  into  San  Benito  on 
her  and  find  out  how  the  land  lies  ?  Then  if  there's 
any  hankey-pankey  on  tap  we'll  be  able  to  turn  the 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF  FLOWERS        39 

tables  on  Barr  before  it's  too  late.  It  will  be 
if  we  have  to  cross  the  mountains  without  knowing 
where  we're  at." 

"We're  your  men,  Jerry,"  Corbyn  said  briefly, 
after  a  quick,  interrogative  glance  in  the  direction 
of  Allardyce.  "Nothing  would  suit  us  better,  and 
I've  been  in  San  Benito  before,  too.  I  know  La 
Boca  slightly,  and  also  Alta  Cruz,  the  capital." 

Meggs  sat  back,  almost  overcome  by  emotions 
of  joy. 

"What  a  combination!"  he  cried.  "Phil,  my 
rose  was  an  inspiration." 

"There's  another  man  we  might  get  to  join  us," 
suggested  Corbyn,  still  hoping  that  Dennis  O'Dare 
would  turn  up  in  time.  "  Would  three  be  too  many 
in  the  advance-guard  ?  " 

"I'll  leave  that  to  you,"  Meggs  rejoined  without 
thinking  twice,  "  and  remember  expense  is  no  object. 
I'll  give  you  a  cheque  in  advance  for  any  amount 
you  like.  No,  it's  not  my  own  money,  for  I  made 
Barr  cash  up  handsomely  in  advance  and  I  have  an 
absolutely  free  hand.  I  told  him  I'd  take  what 
steps  I  thought  fit  to  insure  our  safety,  and,  of 
course,  he  couldn't  raise  any  objection  to  that. 

"  Don't  forget  either  that,  if  we  ever  get  back,  the 
Northern  Corporation  will  honour  our  pay-drafts. 
I  haven't  trusted  to  luck  in  that  respect.  No,  I 
wouldn't  take  Barr's  word  for  a  paper  of  pins. 

"You'll  start  to-day,  then,  and  I'll  be  after  you 
with  twenty  of  the  bravest  and  best  the  minute  he 


40  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

slips  the  leash.  I  only  wish  I  were  going  with  you, 
but  it  won't  be  long  till  we  join  forces.  Wait  hah* 
a  minute." 

He  left  the  table,  and  shortly  came  back  with  a 
slip  of  grey-green  paper  which  Corbyn  pocketed 
as  Allardyce  flicked  it  across  to  him.  Having 
lit  cigars,  they  turned  to  other  topics.  All  three 
were  well  accustomed  to  act  on  few  words,  and  the 
more  salient  features  of  Meggs'  sketchy  programme 
were  quite  sufficient  for  the  other  two.  Their  part 
at  present  was  that  of  scouts  in  an  enemy's  country, 
and  they  found  no  occasion  for  further  question  as 
to  such  simple  duty. 

Allardyce  spoke  lightly  of  his  wanderings  since 
he  had  left  the  English  army  with  some  vague  idea 
of  earning  his  bread  and  butter  by  means  of  the  pen 
in  place  of  the  sword.  Corbyn  explained  straight- 
forwardly his  own  anomalous  position  as  a  poor 
artist  and  the  son  of  a  rich  man  who  did  not  believe 
in  artistic  idleness.  Meggs  entertained  them  both 
with  London  gossip,  but  did  not  again  refer  to  his 
reason  for  leaving  that  city. 

"I  met  your  sister  one  day  at  Hurlingham, 
Phil,"  he  remarked,  and  Corbyn's  face  lit  up. 

"  Where  is  Doll  at  present  ? "  he  asked  eagerly. 
"  I  had  to  tell  her  not  to  write  me  till  Dad  cools  off, 
in  case  he  should  quarrel  with  her  about  me." 

"She  and  her  husband  should  be  here  in  New 
York  very  shortly,"  Meggs  told  him.  "They  are 
coming  over  in  their  own  boat,  and  intend  to  stay 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF  FLOWERS       41 

on  this  side  for  some  months.  Landguard  has 
resigned  from  the  army.  She  made  him.  And 
he's  a  bit  restless,  with  nothing  to  do.  What  corps 
was  he  in,  do  you  know,  Allardyce  ?  " 

"  Landguard  was  in  the  Gunners,  same  as  myself," 
Allardyce  answered.  "I  didn't  know  his  wife  was 
your  sister,  Corbyn,  old  chap!  I've  never  met  her, 
but  I  used  to  know  Landguard  well.  He's  a  good 
sort,  too.  He  would  have  been  in  this  with  us 
like  a  shot,  if  he  had  had  the  chance  and  were  still 
a  bachelor." 

"Yes,  Landguard's  all  right,"  said  Corbyn,  and 
rose.  "Come  on,  Allardyce.  It's  time  we  began 
to  get  busy,  if  we're  to  sail  in  the  afternoon." 

They  parted  with  Meggs  after  a  few  final  words 
as  to  future  arrangements,  and  left  him,  greatly 
delighted  with  the  success  of  his  scheme,  to  the 
task  of  recruiting  a  few  of  his  rank  and  file  from 
among  the  many  who  had  written  Barr  of  Mobile. 
Allardyce  beamed  on  Corbyn  as  they  bowled  smooth- 
ly down  Broadway  in  the  hansom  they  had  hailed. 

"  Luck  has  turned  at  last,  old  chap,"  said  he  in  a 
tone  of  great  contentment.  "  And  what  a  difference 
it  makes  having  Meggs  to  deal  with  instead  of  some 
Spanish  cut-throat  as  we  expected.  I'm  rather  sur- 
prised, all  the  same,  to  find  him  playing  at  soldiers 
of  fortune." 

"Poor  Jerry!"  Corbyn  rejoined  soberly.  "He's 
harder  hit  than  you'd  think,  Allardyce,  whoever 
the  girl  was.  He  doesn't  squeal,  but  he's  feeling 


42  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

it  very  badly.  I  can't  understand He  has  more 

than  enough  money  to  make  him  a  catch,  and  yet 
he  gets  turned  down  too." 

"The  ways  of  women  are  past  finding  out," 
Allardyce  interrupted  briskly,  and  Corbyn  did  not 
contradict  him. 

They  spent  a  busy  forenoon  winding  up  the 
threads  of  their  own  affairs  and  spinning  fresh 
ones  for  the  future.  The  booking-clerk  at  the 
office  of  the  Golden  Cross  Line  had  bidden  them 
be  on  board  their  steamer,  the  Hilario,  by  four, 
but  they  found  time  to  seek  O'Dare  in  all  his  usual 
haunts  before  that  hour,  and,  in  the  end,  reluctantly 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  they  must  count  him 
out  of  their  plans. 

Another  disappointment  was  in  store  for  them 
when  they  drew  up,  on  their  way  to  the  dock,  in 
front  of  Fifi  Florian's  modest  lodging. 

The  woman  there  informed  them  that  the  girl 
had  given  up  her  room  that  morning,  and  Corbyn's 
added  inquiries  only  elicited  the  sulky  supposition 
that  she  had  perhapc  found  work  in  some  other 
quarter  of  the  city. 

"That  must  be  it,"  he  said  more  hopefully,  and, 
having  left  word  for  her,  in  case  she  should  return, 
that  she  would  hear  of  something  to  her  advantage 
by  calling  at  their  bankers,  they  went  on. 

"  We've  done  the  best  we  can  for  her  and  Denny," 
Corbyn  assured  himself.  "I  only  wish  we  could 
have  found  them  both." 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF   FLOWERS       43 

When  they  got  to  the  pier  from  which  the  G.  C. 
boats  start  once  a  fortnight  for  La  Boca  it  was 
already  in  a  state  of  ferment.  They  gathered  from 
the  sulphurous  conversation  of  truckmen  and  ste- 
vedores that  a  consignment  of  cargo  which  ought 
to  have  been  on  board  the  day  before  had  been  kept 
back  till  the  last  minute,  greatly  to  the  hardship  of 
those  who  had  now  to  handle  it. 

"They  must  be  a  musical  lot  in  San  Benito!" 
said  Allardyce  laughingly,  and  pointed  to  a  solid 
square  of  packing-cases  all  bearing  labels  which 
announced  that  they  contained  pianos  and  must 
therefore  be  treated  tenderly. 

"Who's  that  chap  watching  us  so  closely?"  he 
whispered.  "Keep  still  for  a  moment  and  then 
look  round." 

His  friend  obeyed  him.  "  Why,  it's  my  worthy 
friend  Ganzalez,"  he  answered.  "  And  what  a  sight ! " 

It  was  the  individual  in  question,  but  so  dis- 
guised that  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  swear 
to  his  identity.  He  was  wearing  a  great  fur-lined 
overcoat,  his  head  was  bandaged  in  a  black  scarf, 
he  had  a  soft  hat  pulled  well  down  over  his  face, 
and  spectacles  upon  his  nose:  but  for  the  tell- 
tale wig  which  showed  between  the  brim  of  his  hat 
and  his  up-turned  coat  collar  he  would  scarcely 
have  been  recognisable. 

"  I'll  have  a  word  with  him,"  said  Corbyi  impul- 
sively. "He  may  know  something  of  Dennis 
O'Dare." 


44  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

He  hurried  forward,  but  the  fur-lined  coat  became 
at  once  invisible;  nor  could  he  find  it  anywhere 
about  the  pier.  He  came  back  disconcertedly,  and 
followed  his  friend  up  the  gangway. 

A  sulky  steward  showed  them  to  their  berths 
within  a  dingy  stateroom  on  one  side  of  the  old- 
fashioned  poop  cabin,  and,  after  they  had  bestowed 
their  scanty  belongings  in  such  wise  as  to  discourage 
intrusion,  they  went  on  deck  again,  to  kick  their 
heels  there  until  dinner-time. 

Few  of  their  fellow-passengers  appeared  at  that 
function,  and  such  as  there  were  did  not  impress 
them  favourably.  They  turned  in  early  to  escape 
the  chaos  reigning  high  and  low  on  the  Hilario,  and 
heard  but  dimly  the  hoarse  blast  from  her  steam 
siren  which  proclaimed  the  hour  of  her  departure, 
two  A.  M. 

The  Golden  Cross  Line  was  a  government  concern, 
the  property  of  the  Republic  of  San  Benito,  and, 
needless  to  say,  it  paid  no  dividends.  In  its  case 
might  was  right  regarding  any  ready  cash  that  came 
into  its  coffers ;  the  hapless  folk  who  parted  with 
good  money  for  their  passages  by  one  or  other 
of  its  ancient  vessels  received  considerably  less  at- 
tention on  them  than  did  the  unfailing  "  deadheads." 

"They  treat  us  like  a  lot  of  stowaways!"  said 
Allardyce  disgustedly  as  he  and  Corbyn  paced  the 
poop  together  after  breakfast,  watching  the  land  lie 
down  below  the  quarter-rail.  "Somehow  I  don't 
think  that  we're  going  to  enjoy  this  trip,  old  chap." 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF  FLOWERS       45 

"  I  shall  be  thankful  if  we  get  there  safely,"  Cor- 
byn  answered.  "It  will  be  less  amusing  still  if  it 
comes  on  to  blow.  I've  never  seen  a  shadier-looking 
lot  of  navigators  outside  Sheepshead  Bay.  The 
skipper  jars  me  worse  than  a  dentist's  drill!" 

"I  don't  half  like  the  looks  of  our  cabin-com- 
panions either,"  added  the  Englishman.  "The 
crowd  that  buzzed  on  board  after  we  went  to  bed 
comes  from  the  Bad  Lands  or  I'm  a  double-Dutch- 
man. I  don't  mind  betting  that  there  will  be 
trouble  stirring  when  they  get  ashore." 

The  atmosphere  on  the  Hilario,  seemed,  indeed, 
to  be  one  of  mutual  distrust  and  suspicion.  No 
one  had  a  good  word  to  say  to  the  two  English- 
speaking  passengers,  and,  when  they  happened  to 
approach  one  or  another  of  the  whispering  groups 
which  were  forever  forming,  it  would  melt  away,  to 
coalesce  again  in  a  different  corner.  Wherefore 
they  made  no  overture  to  any  one,  but  passed  the 
time  in  unbroken  partnership. 

The  days  were  long  and  dull,  but  seven  of  them 
made  a  week,  and  on  the  Sunday  afternoon  they 
sighted  San  Tomas.  By  nightfall  they  had  cleared 
the  Islands,  and  were  heading  for  the  harbour  of 
La  Boca. 

There  was  no  wind.  The  tropic  temperature  was 
stifling.  A  most  malodorous  and  all-pervading  in- 
cense made  life  below  unbearable. 

Corbyn  and  Allardyce  sought  refuge  from  it  in 
the  shadow  of  the  after  wheel-house,  and  made  their 


46  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

minds  up  to  remain  on  deck  till  dawn  should  bring 
a  cooler  hour  or  two. 

They  had  smoked  their  final  pipes,  were  nodding 
drowsily  in  their  uncomfortable  seats,  when  from 
amidships  there  broke  forth  a  sudden  uproar,  and, 
while  they  rubbed  their  eyes,  a  struggling  mob  be- 
sieged the  bridge  and  chart -house. 

The  whip-like  crack  of  a  revolver  set  them  fumbling 
at  their  own  belts  and,  as  they  drew  the  weapons 
there,  was  answered  by  another,  and  another.  Some 
one  laid  hands  upon  the  whistle-cord  and  set  the 
siren  screaming:  another  lit  a  blue-light,  and  its 
flare  showed  a  dark  mass  of  men  swarming  about 
the  quarter-deck. 

The  officer  on  watch  was  standing  with  his  hands 
above  his  head,  and,  while  he  waited  helplessly, 
his  fellows  were  brought  forth  and  bundled  up  to 
the  bridge  beside  him.  The  whistle-cord  was  cut, 
and  heavy  silence  supervened. 

The  two  men  aft  were  too  far  off  to  interfere  even 
if  they  had  desired  to  do  so.  The  tumult  had  died 
down  before  they  could  come  to  any  understanding 
of  the  incident. 

"It's  mutiny!"  said  Corbyn  as  the  noise  ceased. 
"It's  barratry,"  amended  Allardyce.  "Barratry 
on  the  high  seas.  Our  sporting  friends  have  seized 
the  ship.  The  crew  are  quiet  as  mice. " 

The  moon  showed  over  the  horizon,  and  its  silver 
radiance  cut  a  clear  swathe  across  the  gloom. 

"Come  inside,"  Corbyn  whispered,  and  drew  his 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF  FLOWERS       47 

friend  after  him  as  he  slipped  cautiously  into  the 
tiny  shelter  at  their  backs. 

"  What  are  we  going  to  do  ? "  he  demanded 
hastily.  "  Those  fellows  will  probably  disarm  us  if 
we  let  them.  Do  you  think  it  would  be  safe " 

Allardyce  let  the  brass-railed  window  down  and 
looked  out. 

"They're  coming  aft,"  he  said.  "We'll  stand 
them  off  until  we  hear  what's  what." 

They  closed  and  bolted  both  the  doors,  and  laid 
the  muzzles  of  their  Colts  across  the  window-ledge 
commanding  the  two  ladders  which  led  from  the 
main-deck  to  the  poop. 

None  of  the  contingent  which  had  started  in 
their  direction  appeared.  Part  of  them  halted  by 
the  main-hatch  and  began  to  strip  the  tarpaulin  from 
it:  the  others  entered  the  saloon  by  the  companion- 
hatch  between  the  ladders. 

"  If  we  had  rifles  we  could  held  the  fort  till  dooms- 
day," Allardyce  said.  "I'd  love  to  GadJ 

They're  getting  a  piano  up!" 

He  grinned  and  Corbyn  chuckled  quietly  as  the 
great  square  case  swung  in  its  tackle  and  came 
crashing  down  on  deck.  They  heard  the  splintering 
of  wood,  and  Allardyce  gave  vent  to  an  ejaculation 
of  dismay. 

"They'll  play  no  love-songs  upon  those,"  he 
stated  with  great  gravity.  "They're  full  of 
guns." 

They  watched  and  waited  for  ten  minutes  longer 


48          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

while  from  both  ends  of  the  ship  came  men  who 
went  away  with  arms. 

"I've  counted  thirty,"  Corbyn  asserted,  "and —  " 

"Standby!"  snapped  Allardyce.  "  They're  after 
us. 

"Halt  there,  sir!     One  step  forward  and  I  fire." 

The  head  which  had  popped  up  above  the  top- 
most step  of  the  starboard  ladder  popped  down 
again  with  all  celerity. 

"They're  on  the  poop-deck,"  cried  a  voice,  and 
there  ensued  an  unseen  scramble. 

"  Do  you  know  who  spoke  ? "  asked  Corbyn  of 
his  ally;  and,  without  pausing  for  reply,  "It  was 
Gonzalez,"  he  said  definitely. 

Allardyce  had  not  time  to  contradict  him,  even  if 
he  had  felt  inclined  to  do  so,  before  there  showed  in 
front,  under  the  full  light  the  moon  was  now  shedding, 
what  looked  like  a  white  handkerchief  tied  to  a 
rifle-barrel. 

"  One  of  you  may  come  up,"  shouted  the  English- 
man in  easy  Spanish.  After  much  muttering  and 
hesitation,  there  appeared  the  face  of  Gonzalez,  but 
with  black  hair  above  it  in  place  of  brown. 

"You  won't  shoot?"  he  asked  nervously. 

"Not  unless  we  need  to,"  answered  Allardyce. 
*'  Tell  your  friends  down  below  to  stay  there." 

"What  have  you  to  say?" 

"Will  you  surrender  to  the  Red  Junta  of  San 
Benito?" 

"Why  should  we  do  so?    We  have  nothing  to 


THE   LANGUAGE   OF  FLOWERS       49 

do  with  you  and  your  Juntas,  nor  you  with  us. 
We're  simply  passengers  on  board  this  steamer." 

More  muttering,  and  afterwards,  "They  will  use 
force  if  you  defy  them,"  said  Gonzalez.  "They 
offer  you  a  fair  trial " 

"Fair  trial  for  what?"  demanded  Allardyce  in- 
dignantly. "  Who  do  they  think  we  are  ?  They 
must  be  mad." 

"You  refuse?"  The  anxious  face  was  slowly 
disappearing. 

"  Here,  wait  a  minute !    What " 

"  For  the  last  time — Do  you  refuse  ?  "  The  face 
had  gone,  and  in  its  place  there  was  a  flash  of  light, 
a  crash;  a  bullet  bit  the  steel  front  of  the  wheel- 
house,  and  the  spattering  lead  splashed  back  along 
the  deck.  A  cackle  of  amusement  came  from  the 
group  below.  It  amused  them  to  think  that  their 
ingenious  emissary  had  got  at  least  one  shot  hi  under 
the  white  flag. 

"Above  there!  You  two  spies!"  Gonzalez  fin- 
ished, from  safe  shelter.  "  We're  going  to  shoot  you 
at  our  leisure.  It  would  have  been  a  waste  of  time  to 
try  you,  anyway." 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE    TIGER   OF    SAN    BENITO 

THERE  were  two  carriages  in  waiting  at  the  kerb 
when  Joaquin  Gonzales  and  his  prisoner  stepped 
out  into  the  street.  Into  the  first  of  these  he  handed 
the  girl,  and  with  her  was  driven  off  at  a  great  pace 
in  the  direction  of  the  river. 

The  second  vehicle,  into  which  Schweitzer  and 
his  underlings  crowded  above  the  body  of  O'Dare, 
started  a  little  later  and  made  slower  progress. 

A  steam  launch,  lying  alongside  the  pier  at  which 
each  in  due  course ,  drew  up,  had  carried  off  the 
earlier  arrivals  before  the  others  got  there.  They 
waited,  cursing,  until  it  came  back,  and  then  trans- 
ferred to  it  the  limp  encumbrance  from  the  con- 
veyance, which  clattered  away  at  once. 

"Let  go,"  commanded  Schweitzer,  and  drew  a 
hand  across  his  damp  forehead  as  the  boat-hooks 
fell  and  they  sped  downstream. 

" Sangre  de  dios!"  he  said  blasphemously,  "but 
I'm  glad  to  be  afloat  again.  Gonzalez  doesn't 
grudge  a  risk — when  it  does  not  affect  his  own 
safety."  He  shivered,  and  drew  his  great-coat 
more  closely  about  him. 

50 


THE  TIGER   OF  SAN  BENITO         51 

No  one  else  spoke. 

A  short  run  with  the  current  brought  them  abreast 
a  long,  low  craft,  lying  at  anchor  in  mid-river,  with 
only  riding-lights  on  view.  The  launch  swung 
round  her  stern,  came  up  again  to  port  of  her,  and 
ran  alongside  with  a  clumsy  bump.  Dark  figures 
on  the  deck  above  made  fast  the  lines  that  were 
thrown  them,  and  then  the  body  was  hauled  on 
board  the  bigger  craft  in  the  bight  of  a  rope. 
Schweitzer  climbed  up  after  it,  and  Gonzalez  met 
him  at  the  gangway.  The  launch  cast  off  and 
dropped  quietly  away  with  the  tide. 

"  Shall  I  slip  this  carrion  overside  ? "  asked 
Schweitzer  eagerly,  but  his  superior  did  not  im- 
mediately reply. 

"Wait  till  we're  at  sea,"  said  that  diplomat  at 
length.  "The  people  here  set  so  much  value  on 
their  carcasses  that  they  might  call  us  to  account 
for  it.  We'll  learn  by  precept  rather  than  experi- 
ence, Schweitzer:  we're  not  so  far  away  as  was 
Raisuli." 

"  Where  shall  we  stow  it,  then  ? " 

"Oh,  anywhere  out  of  the  way.  You  know  the 
Mariposa  well  enough  for  that. 

"And  now  I'm  going  to  get  some  sleep:  I  have 
to  be  ashore  again  at  eight.  You'll  stay  on  deck: 
you  will  have  lots  of  rest  to-morrow.  There's 
nothing  else  for  you  to  do  then." 

He  turned  on  his  heel  and  disappeared,  leaving 
the  other  to  his  own  devices.  Schweitzer  swore 


52  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

wrathfully,  but  did  not  dare  to  disobey  since  it  was 
necessary  to  have  some  one  who  could  speak  English 
on  watch  with  the  look-out  men.  And  when  the 
police  patrol  swept  past  a  little  later  he  hailed  them 
cheerfully,  holding  some  conversation  with  them 
ere  they  ran  out  of  earshot. 

Gonzalez  came  on  deck  again  soon  after  dawn, 
and  set  forth  early  for  Manhattan,  from  which  he 
returned  after  some  hours  of  absence. 

"Where's  the  torpedo-gunner?"  he  demanded  of 
the  sentry  who  received  him. 

"  The  senor  Schweitzer  is  in  the  magazine,  sefior," 
the  man  said  sullenly. 

Dennis  O'Dare  had  suffered  agonies  of  all  sorts 
since  he  had  started  from  the  lumber-room  upon 
his  fatal  errand.  The  fear  that,  through  his  folly, 
his  two  friends  might  suffer  had  been  chief  of  these, 
and  then  there  was  his  failure  to  make  good  upon 
the  mission  with  which  he  had  been  entrusted.  It 
made  him  frantic  to  imagine  what  the  fair  cause  of 
all  his  anguish  must  think  of  him  when  he  did 
not  return  to  her  after  his  glib  assurances,  while  the 
impression  Corbyn  and  Allardyce  could  scarcely  help 
but  form  about  his  conduct  was  still  more  bitter  to 
think  about. 

As  soon  as  he  understood  that  Schweitzer  meant 
to  poison  him  and  so  prevent  his  bearing  witness 
against  the  gang  he  had  so  fortuitously  disturbed  at 
its  nefarious  work,  it  struck  him  that  the  balance  of 
events  was  swinging  more  evenly.  It  was  unpleasant 


THE  TIGER  OF  SAN   BENITO         53 

to  be  done  away  with  in  such  rough  and  ready  fashion, 
but,  since  that  was  part  of  the  performance  and  he 
could  not  help  himself,  he  must  put  up  with  it.  In 
other  words,  he  did  not  fear  to  face  the  finish.  Den- 
nis O'Dare  was  no  coward. 

The  pangs  of  dissolution  over,  he  felt  optimistically 
curious.  Once  dead  he  had  become  reincarnated 
in  an  agreeably  sunny  corner,  and,  opening  one  eye 
cautiously  lest  he  should  have  to  endure  fresh  dis- 
appointment, he  saw  above  him  a  white-painted 
ceiling. 

Further  inspection  showed  that  it  had  suffered 
extreme  heat:  great  flakes  of  paint  had  fallen  from 
it.  Dennis  shook  his  head  very  disconsolately 
and  became  aware  that  he  was  afflicted  with  a 
headache:  which  proved,  to  his  intense  bewilder- 
ment, that  he  was  still  in  the  body  corporate.  He 
stretched  his  limbs  and  found  that  they  were  all 
complete,  in  working  order. 

"I  don't  believe  I'm  dead  at  all!"  he  muttered 
angrily,  and  on  the  instant  there  arose  within  his 
bosom  a  most  burning  resentment  against  Gonzalez 
and  his  evil  crew.  His  senses  had  come  back  to  him 
and  he  recalled  with  growing  rage  all  the  indignities 
that  had  been  put  upon  him. 

A  sudden  snore  apprised  him  of  the  fact  that  he 
was  not  alone.  He  raised  himself  upon  one  elbow 
and  caught  sight  of  Schweitzer  slumbering  on  a  shelf 
almost  within  arm's  length  of  where  he  lay.  Peering 
about,  he  recognised  the  garniture  of  a  small  craft's 


54  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

interior,  and  from  the  tubes  upon  their  chocks  in 
front  deduced  that  she  was  a  torpedo-boat. 

"I've  been  shanghaied!"  he  said  to  himself  with 
steadily  rising  wrath.  "I'll  kill  that  shark-faced 

devil  as  soon "  He  lay  down  hurriedly  and 

shut  both  eyes  as  a  step  sounded  on  the  deck  above 
and  some  one  clambered  through  the  hatch  beyond 
the  open  door. 

"Schweitzer!"  a  voice  cried,  and  O'Dare  knew 
joy  once  more,  for  it  was  Gonzalez'.  "  Schweitzer — 
wake  up,  man!  I  have  news  for  you." 

His  satellite  responded  to  the  shaking  with  which 
the  words  were  emphasised  by  biting  viciously  at 
the  hand  which  had  disturbed  him,  and  then  sat  up, 
scowling.  "Ten  thousand  devils!"  he  exclaimed. 
"  Oh,  it's  you,  is  it  ?  I  thought " 

"Turn  out,"  the  other  ordered  sharply,  "and 
attend.  Gather  your  wits  together.  I've  little 
time  to  spare  and  much  to  tell  you."  He  closed 
the  door  behind  him  and  became  impressive  in  his 
speech. 

"The  revolutionary  Junta's  taken  space  on  the 
Hilario"  said  he,  "  for  a  big  lot  of  arms  and  am- 
munition; and  all  their  fighting  men  here  go 
with  it." 

Schweitzer's  thin  lips  curled  at  the  corners. 

Gonzalez  showed  his  teeth  and  seemed  to  smile. 

"  They'll  seize  the  steamer  south  of  San  Tomas," 
the  spy  continued,  "and  their  intention  is  to  make 
a  landing  on  the  Lower  Coast,  where  their  friends 


THE   TIGER   OF  SAN   BENITO         55 

will  be  waiting  them.  The  Reds  are  strongest  in 
that  district." 

"How  many  war-heads  have  you,  Schweitzer?" 

"Sufficient  to  sink  a  fleet,  if  need  be.  Where 
will  the  Mariposa  pick  her  up?" 

"Somewhere  among  the  Islands,  but  not  before 
they've  made  their  coup.  I'm  going  with  them, 
and  I'll  do  my  best  to  hasten  matters.  The  signal 
will  be  one  blue-light  and  a  long  blast  on  the  steam- 
whistle." 

"  Remember,  though,  that  there  will  be  no  open- 
ing for  torpedo-practice  until  I'm  safely  back  on 
board  the  Mariposa.  Make  no  mistake  on  that 
point,  mi  amigo." 

"I  wouldn't  think  of  such  a  thing!"  Schweitzer 
assured  him  in  an  injured  tone,  but  with  eyes  be- 
lying lips.  "I  won't  pull  trigger  till  we  have  her 
tied  up  in  La  Boca  and  you  are  once  more  with  me." 

"That's  all,  then,"  said  Gonzalez.  "I've  given 
the  commandante  his  sailing-orders.  The  senorita's 

settled,  and Oh,  yes.  Her  new  companion  will 

be  on  board  as  soon  as  the  launch  gets  back.  She 
seems  to  have  found  out  that  the  woman  she  had 
has  been  tampering  with  her  letters,  and  so  dismissed 
her.  I  had  to  engage  another  in  a  great  hurry.  I 
don't  think  we'll  get  much  out  of  her." 

He  spoke  contemptuously,  yawning,  as  he  turned 
towards  the  door. 

"The  Junta  meets  for  the  last  time  at  three,"  he 
finished ;  "  I  must  be  punctual,  to  escape  suspicion.'* 


56  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

He  lingered  still,  and  his  glance  fell  on  Dennis 
O'Dare,  in  his  corner. 

"I  didn't  notice,"  he  said  sharply,  poking  that 
individual  in  the  short  ribs  with  a  painfully  pointed 
shoe,  "I  didn't  notice  that  thing." 

"You'll  notice  this,  then,"  snapped  O'Dare, 
springing  to  his  feet,  his  face  aflame  with  fury; 
and,  ere  the  bewildered  couple  confronting  him 
could  even  imagine  what  had  struck  them,  he  had 
them  in  a  heap  on  the  steel  floor,  where  he  pro- 
ceeded to  deal  justly  by  them  after  a  crude  but  very 
effective  fashion  of  his  own. 

Each  time  they  rose  he  laid  them  low  again  with 
flail-like  fists ;  they  lacked  and  scratched  each  other 
in  their  blindness  while  he  knocked  their  heads 
together.  He  did  not  disregard  ring  rules  in  spite 
of  dire  temptation,  but  otherwise  set  science  aside 
and  thrashed  them  thoroughly. 

The  sentry  overhead  heard  the  resounding 
uproar,  but  thought  at  first  that  Schweitzer  and 
Gonzalez  were  engaged  in  argument.  Then  he 
risked  reprimand  by  looking  in,  and,  seeing  the 
fracas,  climbed  down.  He  clubbed  his  carbine 
with  felonious  intent,  and  was  about  to  smite 
the  stranger  from  behind  when  two  white  hands 
caught  the  uplifted  butt  and  a  woman's  voice  cried, 
"Danger!" 

O'Dare  slipped  from  the  tangle  dexterously,  and, 
arming  himself  with  a  heavy  spanner  from  the  tool- 
rack,  backed  against  the  forward  bulkhead  to  draw 


THE  TIGER  OF  SAN  BENITO         57 

breath :  Gonzalez  and  his  ally  staggered  upright,  and 
stood  gasping. 

"  Must  you  do  murder  here  before  my  eyes ! "  the 
girl  demanded  hotly,  scanning  Dennis  for  some  clue 
to  his  identity,  while  he  regarded  her  with  the  most 
grateful  sensations. 

"We  are  the  murdered — not  the  murderers," 
Gonzalez  answered,  and  his  adversary  laughed 
with  heartfelt  glee. 

"  Just  say  the  word,  Miss  Beatrice,"  he  begged, 
"and  I'll  complete  the  contract.  We  owe  these 
two- 

She  started,  realising,  in  the  nick  of  time,  that 
this  must  be  her  unseen  friend  of  overnight,  and, 
taking  that  for  her  cue,  turned  upon  him  with  seeming 
anger.  "I  shall  be  forced  to  dismiss  you,  too,  sir," 
she  said  sternly,  "  if  I  have  any  further  fault  to  find 
with  your  behaviour." 

He  looked  most  blankly  at  her  as  Gonzalez  asked, 
"Is  this — this  gentleman  in  your  employment, 
sefiorita  ?  " 

"He  is  my  private  secretary — Mr.  O'Dare,"  she 
made  answer  boldly,  without  hesitation,  hoping  that 
she  was  not  mistaken  in  the  deduction  she  had  drawn. 

Gonzalez'  face  fell  as  he  saw  all  hope  of  revenge 
frustrated.  He  could  not  deny  her  statement,  and 
would  not  dare  to  interfere  with  any  member  of  her 
household. 

"It's  just  as  well — for  him,"  he  asserted  darkly, 
"that  he  was  brought  on  board.  You  will  have 


58  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

to  find  quarters  for  him,  Schweitzer,  and  see  that 
he  has  proper  treatment.  The  senorita  must  have 
no  cause  for  complaint,  lest  she  should  find  herself 
unable  to  commend  us  to  His  Excellency. 

"Now  I  must  take  leave.  I  shall  not  have  the 
happiness  of  travelling  to  La  Boca  with  you. 

"Your  most  humble  servant,  senorita.  Yours, 
senor  secretario.  Remember,  Schweitzer.  Quedan 
Vds.  con  dios." 

He  bowed  stiffly  and  left  them,  Schweitzer 
following.  The  other  two  were  left  together  in  the 
torpedo-magazine. 

Dennis  O'Dare  awaited  his  new  employer's  pleas- 
ure, and  presently  she  spoke.  In  the  broad  light 
of  day  he  thought  her  even  fairer  than  before.  Her 
voice  was  an  enchantment. 

"  How  came  you  here  ?  " 

"They  caught  me  at  the  stair-foot,"  he  replied 
concisely,  "and  carried  me  upstairs  again.  And 
then  they  drugged  me." 

"  I'm  sorry,"  she  said  softly,  "  to  have  brought  you 
into  all  this  trouble.  I  found  my  letter,  too,  on  the 
way  out." 

"  The  last  half  hour  has  made  up  for — any  trifling 
inconvenience,"  he  assured  her. 

"But  this  is  only  the  beginning,"  she  responded. 
"There  was  no  way  to  save  you  from  them  but  by 
claiming  you — I  know  too  well  how  little  value 
human  life  has  in  their  eyes — and  now  you  will  have 
to  travel  with  me  to  La  Boca." 


THE  TIGER   OF  SAN   BENITO         59 

"  I'll  travel  round  the  world,  if  need  be,"  he  as- 
serted recklessly,  "although  I'd  like  to  let  my 
friends  know  first " 

"  We  are  close  prisoners,"  she  told  him.  "  There 
is  no  hope  of  getting  word  ashore.  That's  why 
I'm  sorry." 

A  pause  ensued.  Then  with  a  gesture  of  decision 
she  continued: 

"  I  had  better  tell  you  now  that  I  am  Beatriz  Ybar- 
ra,  half -cousin  of  the  President  of  San  Benito." 

"Half-cousin  of  a  precious  scoundrel!"  thought 
O'Dare  rather  ruefully,  recalling  what  he  had  heard 
of  that  individual,  "but,  after  all,  there's  a  black 
sheep  in  most  flocks." 

"  His  Excellency  sent  for  me,  but  I  refused  to  go 
to  him.  He  has  used  force  in  consequence,  and, 
to  save  scandal,  I  submit.  I  do  not  fear  him,  and 
you  need  not  while  you  are  with  me ;  but  if  they  seek 
to  separate  us " 

The  sentry  at  the  deck-hatch  knocked  upon  the 
scuttle,  and  Gonzalez'  voice  called  down:  "Here  is 
the  lady,  your  companion,  senorita.  The  Knnch 
waits,  and,  once  more,  adios" 

"Come  through  into  my  sitting-room,"  she  taid 
to  Dennis,  leaving  unsaid  the  finish  of  her  former 
sentence. 

The  average  torpedo-boat  can  boast  no  ladies'- 
cabin,  but  the  Mariposa  had  been  built  to  represent 
an  entire  navy  and  serve  many  purposes.  Ex- 
tensive preparations  had  been  made  on  board  tor 


60  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

the  reception  of  His  Excellency's  cousin;  the  quar- 
ters in  which  she  had  been  installed  were  wonder- 
fully comfortable  and  commodious. 

O'Dare  sat  down  at  a  sign  from  her,  but,  as  she 
turned  to  greet  the  stranger  announced,  he  rose 
again  in  obvious  astonishment. 

A  girl  was  standing  in  the  doorway,  dressed  all  in 
black  but  pretty  as  a  picture  even  in  such  sombre 
garb,  despite  her  pallor  and  the  apprehension  in  her 
attitude. 

"Fifi!"  cried  Dennis,  and  wondered  if,  after  all, 
he  could  be  dreaming. 

She  looked  at  him  in  blank  bewilderment  and 
then  her  face  lit  up. 

"Oh,  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you,  Denny!"  she  said 
tremulously,  using  the  only  name  by  which  she  had 
known  him  in  that  strange  new  world  to  which  her 
dead  brother  had  introduced  her,  a  world  wherein 
good  comradeship  replaces  ceremony.  But  before 
O'Dare  could  reply,  her  glance  had  met  that  of  Bea- 
triz,  and,  while  he  in  turn  looked  on  in  amazement, 
they  were  clasped  in  each  other's  arms. 

He  turned  away,  and  coughed,  and  blew  his  nose, 
as  a  man  will  when  women  show  emotion,  standing 
with  eyes  averted  until  they  had  in  some  degree 
recovered  their  composure.  There  were  many  ques- 
tions to  be  asked  and  answered  among  the  three  of 
them.  Fifi  and  Beatrix  had  first  met  in  Vienna, 
before  the  former's  family  had  fallen  from  its  high 
estate  there.  The  recollection  of  those  happy  days 


THE   TIGER   OF  SAN  BENITO        61 

in  contrast  with  their  present  circumstances  had 
brought  quick  tears  to  the  eyes  of  both,  but  these 
soon  passed.  Neither  was  of  the  metal  which 
spends  itself  in  vain  repining. 

"  But  how  did  you  come  here  ?  "  Dennis  O'Dare 
asked.  All  else  had  been  cleared  up  between 
them  and  there  was  only  that  one  point  to  be 
explained. 

"  I  came  in  a  steam  launch,"  Fifi  replied.  "  The 
gentleman  who  took  the  studio  next  door  to  Mr. 
Corbyn's  engaged  me  as  a  companion  to  a  lady  going 
south  for  the  winter  in  her  yacht,  and — here  I  am. 
I  thought  it  wasn't  very  like  a  yacht  at  first,  but  now 
I  understand. 

"And,  Denny,  I  want  to  thank  you  with  all  my 
heart  for " 

"Not  a  word — not  a  word  more,  Fifi,"  cried 
O'Dare,  and  backed  out  with  uplifted  hands,  be- 
taking himself  to  the  torpedo-magazine,  where  he 
made  himself  quite  at  home  in  Schweitzer's  quarters, 
there  to  think  things  over,  and  leaving  the  two  girls 
at  liberty  to  exchange  further  confidences  between 
themselves. 

"  I'm  so  glad  Denny  is  with  us,"  said  Fifi  simply 
as  the  door  closed  behind  him.  "He's  such  a  safe 
friend." 

"Who  is  the  Mr.  Corbyn  you  spoke  of,  Fifi?'* 
Beatriz  asked  in  a  low  tone. 

"An  artist,"  Fifi  answered.  "Philip  Corbyn. 
He  was  Stephan's  best  friend,  and  I  can't  tell  you 


62  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

how  good  he  has  been  to  us,  Beatriz,  poor  and  all 
as  he  is." 

"  But,  surely,"  Beatriz  objected,  "he If  it. is 

the  same  Philip  Corbyn  I  know,  his  father  is  a 
millionaire." 

"Yes,"  said  Fifi  sadly.  "But  there  was  trouble 
between  them — some  girl  his  father  wanted  him  to 
marry,  and  he  would  not.  I  was  so  sorry  for 
him,  and " 

"  Does  he  belong  in  San  Francisco  ? " 

"  Yes,  he  has  often  spoken  of  his  home  there." 

Beatriz  pondered  the  matter  for  a  few  moments, 
a  shadow  on  her  fair  forehead  showing  that  she  did 
not  yet  fully  understand.  But  she  knew  that  the 
struggling  artist  who  out  of  his  unaccustomed  pov- 
erty had  so  effectually  befriended  the  exiles  was  that 
same  Philip  Corbyn  who 

"  Fifi,"  she  whispered  with  a  quick,  urgent  craving 
for  sympathy  in  her  distress.  "  Phil  Corbyn  asked 
me  a  year  ago  to  marry  him,  and  I — I  had  to  tell 
him  to  wait.  I  couldn't  help  that,  but — I  feel  now 
that  I've  been  the  cause  of  his  troubles.  I — I've 
been  to  blame,  but — I  didn't  know." 

The  Mariposa  put  to  sea  that  night,  attracting 
no  undue  attention,  and  made  easy  weather  of  the 
long  Atlantic  swell  outside.  Once  free  of  unfriendly 
observation  all  restrictions  upon  the  liberty  of  her 
three  passengers  were  removed,  and,  although  the 
deck-space  was  limited,  they  did  not  lack  room 
either  there  or  in  their  quarters  below.  Schweit- 


THE   TIGER  OF  SAN   BENITO         63 

zer  and  the  ship's  officers  were  berthed  fonvard  and 
the  magazine  had  been  allotted  to  the  so-called 
secretary,  Mr.  O'Dare,  whose  self-imposed  duty  it 
now  became  to  keep  his  employer  and  her  companion 
in  the  best  possible  spirits. 

In  that  direction  he  was  not  unsuccessful,  his 
irresistible  Irish  humour  making  light  of  their  suf- 
ficiently grave  situation,  and  when  he  learned,  as 
he  did  in  due  course,  that  Beatriz  was  interested  in 
his  good  friend  Corbyn,  he  did  not  find  it  difficult 
to  entertain  her.  Fifi  also  had  much  that  was  good 
to  say  on  behalf  of  her  dead  brother's  closest  inti- 
mate, while  Dennis  found  means  to  keep  her,  too, 
from  brooding  upon  the  dangers  ahead.  His  solici- 
tude on  their  behalf  left  himself  little  time  to  antici- 
pate evil,  and  since  he  was  but  human  it  was  scarcely 
to  be  wondered  at  that  he  could  even  enjoy  his 
present  predicament. 

The  days  were  uneventful,  and  time  passed  not 
unpleasantly,  no  one  molesting  them,  until  one  after- 
noon, among  a  group  of  lovely  islands  in  the  Carribean, 
they  were  aware  of  an  unusual  bustle  on  the  bridge ; 
and,  shortly  afterward,  a  quartermaster  came  to 
them  with  the  polite  request  that  they  should  go  below.  > 

It  would  have  been  futile  to  object  and  they 
obeyed  with  a  good  grace.  The  sentry  was  replaced 
at  their  companion-hatch  and  they  were  once  more 
under  close  confinement. 

"  They  must  have  picked  up  the  Hilario,"  O'Dare 
told  his  two  companions.  "  She  left  New  York  the 


64  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

same  night  we  did,  and  we've  been  dodging  about 
these  islands  until  she  came  up  with  us.  We  are 
travelling  faster  now,  you  notice." 

A  thrill  ran  through  the  slender  hull  within  which 
they  were  seated  and  the  dull  thud  of  the  propellers 
struck  a  higher  note. 

He  did  not  deem  it  desirable  to  tell  them  what 
he  had  heard  pass  between  Gonzalez  and  Schweitzer 
as  to  the  purpose  of  the  pursuit  in  progress.  There 
would  be  time  enough  for  that  when  it  was  abso- 
lutely necessary. 

They  dined  in  due  course,  and  the  evening  passed 
as  usual  save  that  they  felt  their  imprisonment  after 
liberty  and  it  was  very  sultry  under  deck.  Word 
had  been  brought  them  that  they  might  expect  to 
reach  La  Boca  before  morning,  but  they  were  dis- 
inclined to  separate  since  sleep  was  patently  im- 
possible in  that  close  atmosphere. 

Soon  after  dark  the  rhythm  underfoot  slowed 
down,  they  heard  the  sound  of  hurrying  feet  close 
overhead,  the  clank  of  chains  on  the  steel  deck,  the 
creak  of  rusty  hinges. 

"  They're  opening  the  torpedo-magazine,"  O'Dare 
told  himself,  but  did  not  impart  this  surmise  to  the 
others. 

The  engines  stopped,  for  the  first  time  since  they 
had  left  the  Hudson  River,  and  on  the  silence  which 
ensued  they  heard  the  swish  of  water  overside  until 
a  hoarse  roar  startled  them  and  they  half  rose  from 
their  chairs. 


THE   TIGER   OF  SAN  BENITO         65 

"  The  captain  is  hailing  some  one  through  a  mega- 
phone," said  Dennis  somewhat  shamefacedly  and 
sat  back  again. 

Listening  intently  he  could  make  little  of  the  loud- 
voiced  conversation  which  ensued.  It  lasted  five 
minutes,  short  and  sharp  on  the  part  of  those  on 
board  the  Mariposa,  defiant,  hesitant,  then  sup- 
pliant and  cringing  as  regarded  the  unseen  answerer. 
When  the  propellers  began  to  churn  again  Beatriz 
Ybarra  gave  vent  to  a  long  sigh  of  relief. 

"  It  was  the  Hilario,"  she  said  slowly  in  response 
to  O'Dare's  mute  glance  of  inquiry,  "  with  men  and 
arms  and  ammunition  to  be  used  against  the  govern- 
ment of  San  Benito.  They  threatened  to  torpedo 
her  without  a  moment's  mercy  unless  she  changed 
her  course  and  headed  for  La  Boca.  They  will 
escort  her  in:  it  isn't  far  now." 

It  was  but  three  short  hours,  in  fact,  and  they  were 
thankful,  when  the  anchor-cable  clanked  out  through 
the  hawse-pipe,  that  nothing  had  happened  in  the 
interim. 

Coincidently  with  that  welcome  sound  they  heard 
a. tender  steam  alongside,  and  a  few  minutes  later 
there  appeared  at  the  entrance  to  the  cabin  in  which 
they  were  waiting  a  slight,  dark,  aristocratic-looking 
man  of  medium  stature,  who  came  forward  hastily, 
knelt  before  Beatriz  Ybarra,  and  kissed  her  hand. 

"Welcome  back,  cousin  and  queen  of  my  heart," 
he  said  in  Spanish.     "I  say  so  for  myself  and  San 
Benito." 
5 


CS  THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"  A  patriot  would  put  his  country  first,  Ygnacio," 
she  responded  coldly.  "In  any  case — you  sent  for 
me  and  I  am  here." 

"  Why  did  you  seek  to  escape  me  ?  "  he  asked  in 
tender  reproach.  "  You  know 

"  Wait  till  we  have  more  privacy,"  she  begged. 

"  Are  these  your  people  ? "  he  asked  with  royal 
indifference.  "The  senorita  Florian  and  senor 
O'Dare;  I  heard  that  they  were  with  you.  Send 
them  on  deck.  I  have  so  much  to  say  to  you." 

She  signed  to  them  that  they  should  go. 

"  That  is  President  Ybarra,"  said  Dennis  as  he 
escorted  Fifi  to  a  quiet  corner  of  the  deck.  He's 
the  Bogey  Man  of  Central  America.  They  call 
him  the  Tiger  of  San  Benito." 

"He  has  a  cruel  face,"  said  Fifi  soberly. 

Schweitzer  came  shuffling  through  the  gloom  and 
her  hand  sought  O'Dare 's,  who  clasped  it  protect- 
ingly.  He  stopped  at  the  gangway  opposite  and 
presently  the  sound  of  oars  foretold  the  approach 
of  further  visitors.  From  underneath  his  coat  he 
brought  forth  a  dark  lantern,  slipped  the  slide  once 
in  signal  and  covered  it  again.  O'Dare  looked  right 
and  left,  and  saw  that  all  deck-lamps  had  been  ex- 
tinguished; the  skylights  were  closed  down  and 
covered  with  tarpaulins. 

The  lights  ashore  showed  the  Hilario  lying  to 
the  south,  a  hulking  silhouette  dgainst  them;  and 
outlined  a  cloaked  figure  at  the  Mariposa's  rail. 
It  was  Gonzalez. 


THE   TIGER   OF  SAN   BENITO        67 

"What  does  His  Excellency  say?"  he  was  de- 
manding of  the  impatient  Schweitzer.  "I  saw  his 
launch  pass.  Has  he  come  on  board  ?  " 

"He's  here,"  the  mercenary  answered,  "and 
approves.  We're  to  let  go.  He  has  insured  the 
Hilario  against  war-risks  and,  as  you  know,  money's 
scarce ! " 

"Is  the  tube  laid?" 

"  It's  ready  to  touch  off." 

Gonzalez  grinned  and  rubbed  his  hands. 

"Good!  Very  good!"  said  he.  "There  is  one 
man  especially  on  the  Hilario  of  whom  His  Excel- 
lency will  be  glad  to  be  well  rid. 

"  We'll  turn  the  search-light  on  her,  and " 

They  hurried  off  together,  and  as  O'Dare  grasped 
the  dire  import  of  their  most  devilish  scheme  he  felt 
a  cold  sickness  creeping  over  him.  What  could  he 
do  alone  against  them !  But  he  must  try 

"  Wait  here,"  he  said  to  Fifi.     "  I've  a  word  to  — " 

He  tiptoed  after  them  until  they  separated,  Gon- 
zalez going  to  the  bridge  and  Schweitzer  forward. 
He  followed  Schweitzer  until  a  hoarse  order  from 
behind  brought  down  upon  him  many  men  who, 
after  a  brief  struggle,  overpowered  him,  holding 
him  there  until  they  should  be  told  what  was  to  be 
done  with  him. 

As  Schweitzer  was  about  to  launch  the  torpedo 
O'Dare  spat  at  him  for  want  of  other  weapon  of 
offence.  The  little  man  made  a  bad  shot,  and, 
looking  up,  shook  his  fist,  screaming,  at  the  ag- 


6*          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

gressor.  Then  he  shipped  a  fresh  tube  and  Den- 
nis was  dragged  away,  still  fighting  like  one 
possessed. 

It  would  indeed  have  gone  ill  with  him,  for  one  of 
his  captors,  irritated  by  his  stubborn  resistance, 
would  have  struck  him  down  with  a  cutlass,  had  not 
Fifi  flown  between  them  with  a  choking  cry  and 
shielded  the  helpless  Dennis  at  the  risk  of  her  own 
life. 

What  happened  afterwards  was  like  an  evil 
dream. 

A  long  white  lane  of  light  was  cloven  through  the 
darkness  from  the  Mariposas  bridge,  and,  in  the 
heart  of  it,  lay  the  Hilario,  broadside  on,  moored 
stem  and  stern  so  that  she  should  not  swing. 

She  staggered  and  sank  sideways  for  a  single 
instant  as  if  smitten  to  the  heart,  and  then  became 
invisible.  Where  she  had  been  there  was  a  great, 
grey  cloud  of  frothing  water,  a  blinding  flash 
of  flame  which  vomited  a  myriad  fragments  and 
black,  woolly  smoke:  a  seething  whirlpool  full  of 
fountains  where  the  torn  and  broken  debris  fell. 

A  dull,  ear-splitting  crash  was  echoed  and  re- 
echoed by  the  mountain-face  above  La  Boca. 


CHAPTER  V 

A  STRANGE  TARGET  PRACTICE. 

JOAQITIN  GONZALEZ,  secret  service  agent  of  the 
President  of  San  Benito,  was  disposed  to  take  credit 
to  himself  for  the  manner  in  which  he  had  carried 
out  the  important  double  mission  whereon  he  had 
been  despatched  by  his  august  employer.  That 
had  been,  briefly,  to  bring  or  send,  no  matter  by 
what  means,  His  Excellency's  wealthy  cousin,  the 
senorita  doiia  Beatriz  Ybarra  to  San  Benito;  and, 
by  the  way,  to  do  as  much  harm  as  he  might  to  those 
of  the  Red  revolutionists  who,  it  was  understood, 
were  active  in  New  York. 

He  had  reached  New  York  only  a  few  hours  after 
Beatriz  had  arrived  there  from  Europe.  The 
dowager  who  had  acted  as  her  companion  abroad 
had  been  one  of  his  creatures,  as  Beatriz  had  found 
out  too  late.  From  her  he  had  learned  all  that  he 
needed  to  know  concerning  Corbyn,  and  the  rest 
had  been  simple  enough.  A  single  bold  coup  had 
sufficed  to  carry  the  girl  off,  and  she  had  shown  no 
inclination  to  seek  outside  help  against  him.  Corbyn 
had  been  got  rid  of  without  the  least  difficulty,  and 
did  not  even  know  that  his  name  had  been  used  as 
a  bait  to  entrap  her. 

69 


70          THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

With  the  revolutionists  he  had  had  equal  success. 
They  had  admitted  him,  on  his  carefully  forged 
credentials,  to  their  most  secret  councils,  and  he 
had  won  their  hearts  by  helping  them  headlong 
adown  the  path  which  must  lead  to  their  ultimate 
destruction,  smoothing  the  rough  places  for  them, 
egging  them  on  to  action,  shepherding  them  to  their 
fate  with  conscienceless  skill.  Another  had  mooted 
it,  but  his  had  been  the  brain  which  conceived  for 
them  the  idea  of  seizing  the  Hilario,  and  when  he 
had  volunteered  to  sail  with  the  ship  even  the  most 
timid  had  felt  that  success  was  assured. 

He  had  been  absolutely  astounded  to  see  Corbyn  at 
the  steamer,  and  could  not  but  believe  that  the  young 
American  had  by  some  means  found  out  about 
Beatriz's  abduction.  There  could  be  no  other  ex- 
planation of  his  travelling  to  San  Benito.  Gon- 
zalez secreted  himself  in  his  cabin,  devoting  deep 
thought  to  the  problem  of  what  should  be  done 
with  the  interloper.  A  quick  solution  presented 
itself.  From  his  hiding-place  he  let  it  be  known 
that  he  believed  there  were  spies  on  board. 

The  fear  of  treachery  is  always  present  in  a  con- 
spirator's mind,  and  what  more  natural  than  that 
his  credulous  dupes  should  suspect  the  unknown  ? 
Suspicion  became  certainty  when,  the  steamer 
seized,  all  others  overpowered,  it  proved  that  the 
perfidious  foreigners  alone  had  found  refuge  from 
them.  Thanks  to  Gonzalez'  agency,  the  revolu- 
tionists had  met  with  no  real  opposition  in  their 


A  STRANGE   TARGET  PRACTICE      71 

first  active  effort,  and  their  elation  made  them  the 
more  bellicose  against  the  two  defenceless  strangers 
who  had  defied  them.  Gonzalez  rubbed  his  hands 
in  the  shadow  as  he  heard  them  breathing  dire 
threats.  It  pleased  him  to  see  his  plan  running 
smoothly  toward  its  foreseen  conclusion.  It  would 
please  his  master  to  hear  that  Corbyn  had  been 
finally  disposed  of,  and  amuse  him  to  hear  how. 

"They  might  afford  us  a  target  for  some  rifle- 
practice,"  said  he,  and  the  suggestion  found  instant 
favour. 

His  valiant  brothers  in  arms  were  already  pining 
for  an  opportunity  to  test  their  untried  rifles  without 
too  much  risk  to  themselves. 

"We'll  lay  a  light  aft  and  fire  from  the  bridge- 
deck,"  one  suggested  and  the  others  acclaimed  him 
a  master-mind. 

"They've  only  revolvers  with  them,"  he  con- 
cluded with  becoming  modesty. 

They  ducked  and  ran,  one  at  a  time,  for  the  more 
distant  shelter,  while  Allardyce  and  Corbyn  laughed 
at  their  precaution,  but,  when  a  cluster  of  electrics 
was  carried  abaft  the  engine-room  skylight  and 
trained  on  the  after  wheel-house,  both  became 
grave  again:  and  when  the  first  shot  whistled  past 
them  their  gravity  gave  place  to  sudden  in- 
dignation. 

"The  swine!  The  low-down,  dirty  swine!"  cried 
Corbyn  as  a  second  effort  which  showed  better 
marksmanship  was  greeted  with  a  chorus  of  approval 


72          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

by  its  partisans.  "They're  going  to  bombard  us 
at  long  range  while  we  can't  reach  them.  How 
far  will  your  Colt  carry,  Allardyce  ?  " 

"As  far  as  that  light  at  any  rate,"  answered  the 
Englishman  through  set  teeth.  "  We've  got  to  douse 
it,  old  chap,  or  they'll  douse  us." 

He  fired,  and  missed ;  and  was  answered  by  a  spat- 
tering volley.  He  fired  again  before  the  others  could 
extract  spent  shells,  and  then  stooped  down  to  escape 
the  ensuing  shower  of  bullets. 

"It's  lucky  this  old  hutch  of  ours  is  steel,"  he 
said,  and  filled  the  empty  chambers  of  his  magazine. 
"  I'm  not  much  of  a  shot,  it  seems,  although  I  used 
to  fancy  myself  at  forty  yards." 

"The  target  is  an  uncommon  one,"  Corbyn  re- 
plied. "I'm  going  to  draw  their  fire  now  and  try 
my  hand.  You'd  better  stand  by,  in  case  there's 
any  one  about  who  thinks  of  stepping  upstairs.  If 
they  were  men  they  would  rush  us  at  once." 

He  thrust  his  hat  above  the  window-ledge  upon 
the  handle  of  a  deck-broom  he  had  found  behind 
him,  and  a  hail  of  lead  greeted  its  appearance. 
Then  he  looked  out,  took  aim  despite  stray  shots 
which  followed,  and,  pulling  with  steady  pressure  at 
the  trigger,  scored  a  success.  His  shot  smashed  the 
white  back-plate  of  the  cluster  and  set  it  swaying 
wildly. 

"Good  man!"  commented  Allardyce.  "One 
more  like  that  and  they'll  need  new  illuminations 
for  their  shooting  gallery.  I'll  rake  them  with  a 


A  STRANGE  TARGET  PRACTICE  73 

quick-fire Gad !  Get  loaded  quickly — here  they 

come ! " 

He  aimed  at  the  first  of  the  dark  shadows  creeping 
towards  them  below  the  bulwarks  under  cover  of 
a  continuous  flash  and  crackle  from  the  bridge-deck. 
Their  stubborn  resistance  had  already  enraged  the 
riflemen,  and  their  position  was  to  be  carried  by 
assault.  Whereafter  there  would  be  short  shrift 
for  both  of  them. 

"Wait  till  they  top  the  ladders,"  Corbyn  cried, 
and  was  filling  his  mouth  with  cartridges  when 
"Sail  ho!"  shrieked  a  terrified  voice  from  forward. 
"See  the  torpedo-boat  coming  up  astern!" 

No  thunderbolt  could  have  produced  among  them 
a  more  profound  sensation  of  disaster.  The  firing 
ceased,  the  light  was  turned  off,  and  the  storming- 
party  fled  back  to  the  bridge-deck. 

Corbyn  caught  Allardyce's  eye  and  they  smiled 
somewhat  sickly  at  each  other.  In  such  short  space 
of  time  the  nervous  tension  had  been  high. 

They  waited  quietly  where  they  were,  and  heard 
what  passed  between  their  would-be  executioners 
and  those  on  board  the  craft  which  presently  caught 
up  with  the  Hilario.  Thereafter  they  were  left  in 
peace,  and  no  one  seemed  to  think  it  worth  while 
to  hold  further  parley  with  them. 

The  sudden  surprise  of  capture  had  thor- 
oughly cowed  the  revolutionists  and  they  made 
no  demur  when,  having  dropped  anchor  off  La 
Boca,  a  boarding-party  from  the  Mariposa  bade 


74          THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

them  lay  down  their  arms  and  drove  them  below 
with  blows. 

It  was  too  late,  after  they  had  been  battened  under 
hatches,  to  bewail  the  absence  from  among  them  of 
their  comrade  Gonzalez,  but  notwithstanding  they 
did  bewail  it  very  volubly,  conceiving  themselves 
betrayed. 

The  couple  in  the  wheelhouse  had  come  forth 
tentatively,  but,  when  they  saw  the  sort  of  treatment 
being  meted  out  to  their  unfortunate  fellow-passen- 
gers, they  deemed  it  more  judicious  to  postpone 
all  explanation  of  their  own  presence  on  board  for 
the  time  being.  They  knew  that  mere  assertions 
would  go  for  little  in  the  darkness,  and  decided 
to  wait  for  day-light  to  prove  their  identity  as 
neutrals. 

It  seemed  to  them  quite  providential  that  Gonzalez 
should  ignore  them  as  he  did,  and,  when  that  scoun- 
drel clambered  down  into  the  boat  which  was  to  carry 
him  and  his  assistants  into  safety,  they  congratulated 
themselves  on  his  short  memory. 

"There  was  a  spy  on  board,  you  see,"  said 
Allardyce,  "and  there  he  goes.  The  others  are  all 
prisoners  below.  The  deck  is  deserted.  Let's  see 
if  we  can  swing  a  boat  out-board  and  cut  ashore." 

They  scrambled  forward  and  set  hastily  to  work, 
but  scarcely  had  they  stripped  the  cover  off  the 
smallest  of  the  life-boats  when  the  search-light  fell 
upon  them  and  they  had  to  hide  again. 

"What's  that?"   asked   Corbyn  anxiously,   and 


A  STRANGE  TARGET  PRACTICE  75 

pointed  to  a  long,  black  object  which  went  churning 
past  the  steamer's  stern  with  a  white  wake  behind  it. 

"Good  God!"  his  friend  cried,  leaping  to  the 
rail,  "  they're  trying  to  torpedo  us !  Can  you  swim, 
Corbyn  ?  Then  dive !  Dive  deep ! " 

He  set  the  example  on  the  instant,  going  overside 
with  a  clean  downward  sweep  which  carried  him 
to  a  great  depth,  and  even  then  he  kicked  his  way 
still  lower. 

A  sudden,  heart-rending  shock  withdrew  the 
dead  weight  of  the  water  from  on  top  of  him,  and  he 
had  only  time  to  draw  a  single  breath  of  agony 
before  the  chasm  closed  in  again,  burying  him  so 
that  it  seemed  as  though  he  might  never  escape. 
The  whirlpool  caused  by  the  sinking  ship  dragged 
him  still  deeper  in  its  wild  vortex.  He  was  almost 
insensible  before  he  felt  solid  foundation  underfoot, 
and,  kicking  off  with  a  final,  despairing  effort  shot 
surfacewards  again. 

The  blood  rushed  to  his  head,  his  lungs  were 
bursting,  but  he  kept  his  mouth  shut,  and,  after  an  age 
of  suffering,  shot  waist-high  from  the  swirling  brine. 

A  gasp  of  anguish  escaped  him  and  he  sank 
again,  but  not  so  far;  and  in  another  moment  he 
was  swimming,  somewhat  feebly  but  with  free  air 
to  help  him. 

A  floating  spar  swept  past  on  the  still  boiling  eddy. 
He  clutched  at  it  with  hands  that  were  almost  im- 
potent, and  clung  to  his  hold  till  he  had  recovered 
his  wits  sufficiently  to  make  more  use  of  it;  when 


76          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

he  drew  himself  partly  out  of  the  water  and  looked 
despairingly  round. 

He  was  alone,  but  in  the  blinding  light  which 
swept  the  scene  he  saw  not  far  away  an  upturned 
face.  He  left  his  ark  of  refuge  without  hesitation 
and  struck  out  towards  it. 

"Corbyn!"  he  cried.     "Corbyn,  old  chap!" 

"Lie  low,"  replied  the  face,  "in  case  they  spot 
us." 

He  uttered  a  sharp  sigh  of  thankfulness,  and 
spat  the  salt  water  from  his  mouth.  "  Good  God !  " 
said  he  again,  "  but  that  was  a  close  call.  Are  you 
all  right?" 

"  More  or  less,"  responded  his  friend.  "  I'm 

Oh,  the  brutes!" 

A  shrill,  metallic  buzzing  broke  upon  their  ears 
and  a  dull,  distant  crackle  told  them  whence  the 
missile  had  been  sped. 

"They've  spotted  us,"  said  Corbyn  quietly. 

A  spitfire  fusillade  lifted  fountains  of  spray  all 
round  them  as  the  bullets  took  the  water  with  a 
hollow  plup-p.  They  dived,  and  once  more  came 
up  floating,  only  nose  and  forehead  above  the  sur- 
face, but  still  the  leaden  storm  encompassed  them. 
A  sudden,  needle-like  pain  in  the  calf  of  one  leg 
caused  Corbyn  to  kick  spasmodically,  and  his  in- 
voluntary action  brought  down  on  them  a  closer 
shower. 

Their  position  was  well-nigh  desperate  when,  out 
of  the  immediate  darkness,  there  bore  down  upon 


them  with  the  rush  of  a  racer  a  little  low  grey  launch, 
which  slowed,  and  stopped,  and  backed  and  stopped 
again  almost  on  top  of  them.  Two  boat-hooks 
caught  them  by  the  collars,  dragging  them  alongside. 
Strong  hands  hoisted  them  helplessly  on  board.  A 
heavy  body  overbore  them,  and,  while  they  lay  there 
struggling  vainly,  she  sprang  forward  quivering  and 
went  swishing  out  to  sea. 

A  ceaseless  rifle-fire  enveloped  her  until  at  last 
she  had  run  out  of  range,  but  still  she  was  kept  going. 
When  distance  had  curtained  her  from  the  relentless 
light,  she  was  slowed  down  a  little,  and  a  voice  said, 
"Root  out  the  rum,  Mickey,  and  pass  it  aft.  A 
taste  of  it'll  maybe  do  your  Dago  brethren  here  no 
harm." 

"Dago  yourself!"  interpolated  Allardyce  indig- 
nantly. "  We're  white  men.  What  are  you  ?  " 

"  Better  say  Bourbon,  Mick,"  the  voice  continued 
cheerily.  "  Excuse  me,  boys.  I  ought  to  have  asked 
the  colour  of  your  complexions,  but " 

"  Let  me  apologise,"  said  the  Englishman,  sitting 
up.  "I  thought  you  were  the  enemy,  and — you're 
American  ?  " 

"From  Newspaper  Row.  The  New  York  Wire- 
less owns  me.  My  name's  Challoner.  Here's  the 
rye — drink  hearty !" 

They  both  obeyed,  with  great  good  will,  and  felt 
much  the  better  of  their  captor's  prescription.  "  I'd 
give  you  a  cigar,"  he  added,  "but  it  would  be  too 
dangerous.  We'll  show  no  light  until  we're  safely 


78          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

ashore.  I'll  head  back  for  La  Boca  now,  and  by 
the  way  we'll  have  time  to  swap  stories. 

"  I  suppose  you  know  there's  trouble  afoot  in  this 
cursed  country.  That's  why  I'm  inhabiting  it." 

"  What  sort  of  trouble  ?  "  Corbyn  asked  curiously 
as  the  light  craft  turned  almost  on  her  heel  and  held 
a  straight  course  for  the  far-off  lights. 

"Two  sorts,"  the  correspondent  answered  care- 
lessly. "One's  civil  war,  the  other — woman.  My 
business  is  with  the  former." 

A  somewhat  awkward  silence  supervened.  He 
seemed  to  be  awaiting  their  reciprocal  confidence, 
but  neither  felt  inclined  to  mislead  him,  on  the  one 
hand,  or,  on  the  other,  to  explain  their  presence  in 
such  company  as  that  from  which  they  had  been 
so  abruptly  severed. 

He  spoke  again  himself.  "A  rose,"  he  said, 
"  by  any  other  name " 

"Mine's  Allardyce,"  said  that  youth  frankly. 

"And  your  friend's  is  Corbyn,"  Challoner  con- 
cluded in  a  whisper.  "  I'm  glad  to  meet  you  both." 

"We're  rather  more  than  thankful  that  you  met 
us,"  Corbyn  assured  him. 

"  But  how  do  you  happen  to  know  who  we  are  ?  " 

Their  rescuer  cogitated  for  a  time  before  he 
answered,  and  then  spoke  swiftly  in  a  low  tone: 
"My  man  Miguel's  a  good  fellow,"  said  he,  "but, 
all  the  same,  I  never  open  my  mouth  too  wide  when 
he's  about. 

"  They're  cruel  devils  in  this  locality,  and  very  apt 


A  STRANGE  TARGET  PRACTICE   79 

to  screw  what  information  they  want  out  of  a  native : 
so  that  it's  safer  to  say  little  and  listen  a  lot. 

"Now  I  want  you  gentlemen  to  understand  that 
I'm  here  for  my  paper  only  and  all  the  time.  The 
Wireless  wants  war  news,  and  I  supply  it.  You 
know  what  that  means,  Mr.  Allardyce.  You  don't 
remember  me,  but  we  met  at  Pinar  del  Rio 
in  '98." 

"I  was  there  for  the  British  News  Bureau,"  the 
Englishman  answered,  "  but " 

"And  I  was  working  for  the  Wireless,  in  the 
costume  of  a  teamster,"  the  other  explained.  "I 
wanted  very  badly  to  borrow  some  tobacco  from  you, 
but  the  Spaniards  were  so  suspicious  that  I  didn't 
dare  to  look  your  way. 

"However — I  heard  that  you  had  sailed  on  the 
Hilario,  and,  when  the  Mariposa  brought  her  in, 
I  thought  I'd  take  a  run  round  the  bay. 

"  Every  one  here  knows  what  her  cargo  was,  and 
as  soon  as  the  President  came  cavorting  down  from 
the  capital  it  was  easy  to  foresee  trouble  for  those  on 
board.  They  call  him  the  Tiger  of  San  Benito — and 
he's  proud  of  his  reputation. 

"  But  here  you  both  are,  safe  and  sound  in  spite  of 
him;  which  is  good  enough  to  go  on  with." 

That  was  all  that  passed  at  the  moment,  but  the 
two  drenched  adventurers  surmised  that  he  knew 
something  of  the  errand  which  had  brought  them 
there. 

They  would  have  asked  further  questions,   but 


80  THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

"Stand  by!"  said  Challoner  suddenly.  "They're 
after  us." 

Against  the  glare  ashore  they  saw  a  dim  black 
shape  which  became  a  boat  as  they  bore  down  upon 
it  under  their  own  impetus.  A  stumpy  funnel 
showed  it  to  be  a  steam  launch.  The  land-breeze 
brought  to  their  ears  the  echo  of  angry  voices. 

"  I  tell  you  she  put  out  to  sea,"  one  was  protesting 
volubly.  "There's  no  such  craft  belonging  to  this 
port,  and,  while  we're  pottering  about  here  they'll 
have  made  a  landing  behind  Punta  Gorda." 

"For  dios,  then!"  another  cried,  and  he  spoke 
like  Gonzalez,  "put  us  about  and  get  back  to  the 
Mariposa.  His  Excellency  will  be  wild  with  us, 
and  all  the  wilder  if  we  keep  him  waiting. 

"  It  may  be  that  the  cockle-shell  has  sunk.  Some 
of  our  bullets  must  have  bitten  through  her." 

*'  Hist ! "  snapped  the  first.     "  A  light  here,  quick ! " 

He  was  obeyed,  and  a  big  lamp  shone  forth  across 
the  water. 

"Duck  down,"  commanded  Challoner,  "we're 
going  to  get  it." 

Hardly  had  he  spoken  when  the  dancing  rays 
descended  upon  his  head  and  shoulders  where  he 
was  sitting  up  to  steer,  and,  with  a  howl  of  triumph, 
those  on  board  the  steamer  gave  the  order  to  head 
after  him. 

Zip-zsss-s-s  a  bullet  came  whistling  past,  and 
others  followed.  It  was  evident  that  the  enemy 
was  well-armed,  and  little  disposed  to  offer  quarter. 


The  motor-boat  held  a  straight  course  across 
their  bows.  "  Ram  her ! "  Gonzalez  screamed  ecstati- 
cally. 

"  Sit  tight,"  said  Challoner,  and  took  both  hands 
to  the  tiller. 

He  turned  her  almost  squarely  off  her  course  and 
she  careened  to  starboard  till  she  all  but  overturned, 
but  still  she  shot  ahead  and  the  very  suddenness  of 
the  movement  disconcerted  her  pursuers. 

Corbyn  looking  back  saw  one  of  the  men  in  the 
boat  level  a  rifle  very  carefully  at  Challoner,  and 
springing  up,  pulled  the  correspondent  aside  as  a 
dull  flash  and  a  quick  burning  agony  in  his  own 
right  arm  told  him  that  he  had  been  in  time  and 
no  more. 

"What's  up?"  asked  Challoner. 

"Nothing,"  he  answered  dully,  and  crouched 
down  again,  setting  his  teeth  against  the  hurt. 

The  pursuers  had  to  slacken  fire  because  there  was 
not  room  for  more  than  two  or  three  riflemen  in 
their  bows  and  these  spoiled  each  other's  aim,  but, 
with  a  roar  of  baffled  rage,  they  followed  at  their 
best  speed,  their  funnel  spitting  flame  and  sparks. 

Challoner  laughed  to  himself  as  they  dropped 
astern.  "We've  got  the  heels  of  them,"  he  volun- 
teered, "and  once  we're  out  of  sight  I'll  turn  and 
run  for  the  landing.  It's  lucky  that  we  met  them 
where  we  did,  and  now  we  know  exactly  where  they 
are;  if  it  had  been  closer  in-shore  they  might  have 
kept  us  out  all  night  and  nipped  us  in  day-light." 
6 


82          THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

A  breathless  ten  minutes  took  them  across  the 
bay.  They  slipped  quietly  past  the  Mariposa, 
which  was  still  using  her  search-light  seawards  to 
help  the  launch,  and  shortly  ran  alongside  a  ledge 
of  rock  on  the  outskirts  of  La  Boca. 

"Step  lively,  please,"  requested  their  almost  in- 
visible friend,  and  they  jumped  ashore  with  great 
good  will. 

"  I  like  dry  land,"  said  Corbyn  aside  to  Allardyce. 
"Don't  you?" 

"  I  love  it,"  answered  the  other,  shuffling  gleefully 
on  solid  earth. 

"When  you're  quite  done  dog-dancing,"  Chal- 
loner  interrupted,  "perhaps  you'll  lend  a  hand  to 
house  the  boat.  It  would  be  awkward  for  us  if  —  " 

They  turned  and  saw  the  man  Miguel  laying  a 
roller  down  on  the  gently  shelving  strip  of  sand  that 
lay  between  the  water's  edge  and  the  black  wall  of 
rock  behind  them.  All  four  laid  hands  on  the  little 
craft  and  she  ran  smoothly  up  the  ways  to  her  hiding- 
place,  a  low  cave  at  the  cliff-foot.  A  heavy  door, 
swinging  on  well-oiled  hinges,  shut  her  in  as  soon  as 
Miguel  had  retrieved  the  rollers.  "  Come  this  way 
and  step  lively,"  said  Challoner,  turning  along  the 
beach. 

They  tramped  along  the  shore  for  ten  minutes, 
and  then  turned  up  a  steep  slope  which  took  them 
to  a  level  road  running  parallel  at  that  height  with 
the  curve  of  the  coast.  Challoner  called  a  halt  till 
he  could  be  sure  that  no  passer-by  would  observe 
them,  and  they  crossed  it  quickly.  Another  climb. 


A  STRANGE  TARGET  PRACTICE   83 

but  longer,  brought  them  to  a  squat  building  which 
occupied  a  little  plateau,  a  mere  terrace  in  the  rock- 
face,  overhung  by  the  heights  above,  looking  down 
into  the  depths  below,  approachable  only  by  the 
path  they  had  followed. 

"This  is  my  shack.  Come  right  in,"  he  said 
hospitably,  and  threw  open  the  door  of  a  snug,  lamp- 
lit  living-room  which  opened  on  to  the  wide,  trellised 
porch.  "I'll  fish  out  some  dry  kit  for  you,  and — 
Shucks!  They  hit  you,  did  they?  That  was  why 
you  pulled  me  aside  when  we  were  at  close  quarters 
with  those  pirates !  It's  your  right  arm,  too.  That 
bullet  would  have  come  close  to  corpsing  me  if  you 
hadn't - 

"It's  nothing,"  Corbyn  broke  in,  looking  down 
at  the  blood-stained  handkerchief  he  had  managed 
to  bind  about  his  wound  in  the  darkness,  and 
Challoner  said  no  more.  He  set  the  other  down 
in  a  chair,  brought  in  warm  water  and  a  case  of 
surgical  implements,  cut  the  coat-sleeve  clear,  and 
doctored  the  hurt  very  deftly. 

"Clean  through,"  he  announced  on  examination. 
"  A  nickel-nosed  bullet.  If  it  had  been  soft  lead  I'd 
have  had  to  saw  your  arm  off,  my  friend.  As  it  is, 
you'll  be  all  right  in  a  few  days,  but  it  will  be  a  bit 
stiff  and  sore  to-morrow." 

He  knotted  the  bandage  he  had  applied  with 
dexterous  fingers,  and,  as  Corbyn  rose,  led  them 
through  to  an  inner  room,  threw  open  a  capacious 
cupboard,  slipped  back  a  panel  and  pulled  forth  a 
great  variety  of  costumes. 


84          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"My  stage  wardrobe,"  he  said  briskly  "I 
sometimes  have  to  dodge  about  in  disguise.  Suit 
yourselves  as  to  cut  and  colour.  I'd  recommend 
these  dark  things  and  a  soft  sombrero.  They're  less 
likely  to  attract  attention  than  the  clothes  you're  wear- 
ing, and  I've  ruined  your  coat  in  any  case,  Corbyn. 
Supper  will  be  waiting  by  the  time  you  re  ready." 

He  nodded  approvingly  when  they  appeared  in 
their  change  of  clothing. 

"You'll  pass  all  right  in  the  crowd,"  said  he. 
"Sit  in." 

Over  the  welcome  meal  he  had  provided  they  were 
too  busy  with  healthy  appetites  to  talk  much,  and 
afterwards  their  host  explained  very  frankly  that  he 
could  not  keep  them  longer. 

"I'm  here  myself  on  sufferance,"  he  informed 
them  apologetically,  "  and  I  can't  afford  to  be  under 
the  slightest  suspicion  of  complicity  in  any  matter 
which  does  not  immediately  concern  the  Wireless. 
I  know  you  won't  bear  me  any  ill-will  on  that  ac- 
count, and  I've  had  to  send  Meggs  word  to  the 
same  effect.  Yes,  I  had  news  from  him  about  you, 
and  I've  done  what  I  could  in  consequence.  I  don't 
know  what  his  game  is,  and  I  don't  want  to  be  told 
if  you  know — but  I  hope  you  and  he  won't  get  into 
any  trouble.  I'd  do  more  than  a  good  deal  for  Meggs 
but — I'm  drawing  pay  from  the  Wireless,  and  it 
won't  allow  me  to  have  any  friends  while  I'm  work- 
ing, in  case  the  authorities  here  turn  sour  on  me. 

"  That's  why  I  must  ask  you  to  forget  that  you've 


A  STRANGE  TARGET  PRACTICE  85 

met  me,  and  all  you've  seen:  especially  the  boat, 
and  where  I  keep  it.  Henceforth  we're  strangers  in 
a  strange  land.  I'm  sorry,  but  it's  absolutely  neces- 
sary, and,  if  God's  good  to  us  all,  we'll  maybe  meet 
again  in  Manhattan.  Then  I'll  be  better  able  to 
prove  that  I'm  not  ungrateful  to  you  for  having 
saved  my  life,  Corbyn.  And,  apart  from  that,  I 
owe  Landguard,  your  brother-in-law,  more  than 
one  good  turn.  Yes,  I  know  him  pretty  well.  I 
met  him  in  Egypt. 

"Do  you  need  any  money?  Talk  straight 
about  it." 

They  shook  their  heads. 

"  Got  your  guns  ?  " 

They  nodded. 

"You'll  find  oil  and  rags  and  mixed  ammunition 
in  that  cigar-box.  Help  yourselves  to  anything  you 
find  useful." 

He  left  them  for  a  few  minutes  and  when  he  re- 
turned they  were  once  more  ready  for  action. 

"The  road  is  clear,"  he  said,  and  escorted  them 
to  the  foot  of  the  path,  keeping  carefully  in  the  deep- 
est shadow. 

"  I  hate  this  hole  and  corner  work,"  he  muttered 
as  they  shook  hands  at  the  roadside,  "but — you 
can  understand  my  position.  Turn  to  the  right, 
and  the  high-road  leads  straight  to  La  Boca.  Look 
after  yourselves  there,  and  bear  in  mind  that  the 
natives,  who  ought  to  know  what  they're  talking 
about,  call  it  La  Boca  del  Tigre. 


86          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"Good-bye,  good-bye.  No,  you  don't  owe  me 
a  word  of  thanks.  I'm  in  your  debt.  That's  how 
we  stand.  Good  luck  to  both  of  you!" 

He  hurried  after  them,  "Give  Meggs  my 
remembrances  when  you  see  him,"  said  he.  "I 
don't  know  where  I  may  be  by  then.  And  I  almost 
forgot  to  tell  you  that  you'll  find  fairly  safe  quarters 
at  the  Golden  Eagle,  if  you  mention  Rose  to  the  fat 
woman  you'll  find  there.  I  fixed  that  with  her. 
It  was  all  I  could  do  for  you." 

"Good  little  sort  of  old  Samaritan!"  Allardyce 
soliloquised,  as  he  and  his  friend  followed  the  dusty 
road  at  a  round  pace.  "  I  almost  wish  he  were  with 
us  in  this.  Newspaper  corresponding  is  a  soulless 
business. 

"  What  kind  of  place  is  La  Boca  del  Tigre,  Corbyn  ? 
The  English  of  it's  the  Tiger's  Mouth,  eh?" 

And  Corbyn  laughed  inconsequently  as  he  re- 
plied, "Yes,  the  Tiger's  Mouth." 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  TIGER'S  CLAWS. 

SEATED  in  the  small  cabin  of  the  Mariposa  with 
the  Tiger  of  San  Benito  confronting  her,  the  outward 
attitude  of  Beatriz  Ybarra  showed  no  trace  of  her 
inward  discomposure. 

She  answered  half  disdainfully  his  cursory  in- 
quiries as  to  her  treatment  on  the  trip  from  New 
York,  knowing  that  he  was  already  posted  in  all  its 
details,  and  evinced  no  curiosity  whatever  as  to  the 
•further  dispositions  he  had  made  for  her.  Only 
when  he  expressed  the  hope  that  she  had  come 
prepared  to  remain  among  her  country-folk  did  she 
deem  it  worth  while  to  utter  a  quietly  emphatic 
negative. 

"I  shall  return  to  Washington  when  I  think  fit," 
she  added. 

"And  yet  you  were  born  under  the  Golden  Cross, 
my  cousin,"  the  President  said,  his  hot  eyes  drinking 
in  all  her  beauty,  and  her  heart  sank,  for  he  spoke 
truth.  Above  the  home  in  Washington  to  which 
her  father,  the  minister  of  San  Benito,  had  taken 
his  American  wife,  had  floated  the  emblem  of  the 
republic  he  represented.  And  now  her  country 

87 


88          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

claimed  her,  through  its  head,  for  though  she  had 
been  born  in  the  United  States  and  was  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  an  American,  she  still  owed  allegiance 
to  San  Benito. 

"It  makes  no  difference,"  she  said  steadfastly. 
"I  have  come  here  peaceably  rather  than  run  the 
risk  of  public  scandal,  but  do  not  think  that  I  fear 
you,  Ygnacio.  I  shall  return  to  Washington  when 
I  think  fit.  My  home  is  there,  where  my  father  and 
mother  are  buried. 

"You  will  be  well  advised  not  to  give  me  cause 
to  cut  my  visit  to  this  country  short." 

"But  first  you  will  go  with  me  to  the  capital," 
he  stipulated  cunningly.  "  The  populace  is  all  agog 
to  see  you.  It  is  so  long  since  you  were  with  us, 
and — they  love  you,  Beatriz,  even  as  I  do.  Your 
presence  in  the  palace  will  be  very  helpful  to  me 
in  my  task  of  government.  You  are  aware,  no 
doubt,  that  these  are  troublous  times  in  San  Benito. 
Surely  you  will  do  so  much  for  your  native 
land." 

"  Please,  spare  me  argument  of  that  sort,"  she  inter- 
rupted fearlessly.  "It  rings  too  falsely  from  the 
mouth  of  him  they  call  — 

The  Mariposa  shook  from  stem  to  stern  under 
the  shock  of  a  most  deafening  explosion.  The 
speaker  held  up  helpless  hands  as  a  fell  glare  crim- 
soned the  tiny  cabin.  She  sank  back,  shuddering, 
and  shut  her  eyes,  but  did  not  once  cry  out. 

Ybarra  cast  one  anxious  glance  towards  her  and 


THE  TIGER'S  CLAWS  89 

then  sprang  through  the  doorway.     He  had  been 
waiting  for  that  moment. 

He  knew  exactly  what  had  happened,  since  it 
was  by  his  order  that  the  inhuman  crime  had  been 
committed.  A  moment's  survey  of  the  scene  above 
assured  him  of  his  own  immunity  from  danger,  and 
with  that  he  went  forward  as  far  as  the  bridge. 

He  met  O'Dare  carrying  Fifi  aft  in  a  half -fainting 
state. 

"Go  to  your  mistress,"  he  said  gruffly. 

"Go  to  the  devil,"  Dennis  retorted  with  equal 
acerbity,  and  so  passed  on. 

Gonzalez  was  at  the  search-light  on  the  bridge, 
and  His  Excellency  greeted  him  with  words  of 
approval. 

"A  well-planned  piece  of  work,"  he  said,  and  the 
man  who  had  sold  his  shipmates  bowed  before 
him. 

"  Humilde  servidor  de  Vuestra  Excelencia,"  he 
answered,  a  tinge  of  irony  in  his  tone.  "Your 
Excellency's  humble  servant." 

The  President  glanced  sharply  at  him — Ybarra 
was  quick-witted — and  he  went  on,  in  haste. 

"  Your  Excellency  had  word  from  me  of  the  Ameri- 
cano, Corbyn,  in  whom  the  doria  Beatriz  was  in- 
terested." 

"  What  of  it  ?  "  snapped  Ybarra.  It  irritated  him 
to  be  reminded  that  some  other  man  might  have 
forestalled  him  with  his  cousin.  Gonzalez  knew 
it  would. 


90          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"  He  has  followed  her  here  from  New  York,"  he 
said,  still  more  daringly. 

"Thousand  thunders  of  God!"  cried  his  master. 
"Why  do  you  stand  there  idle  while  he  still  lives? 
Would  you  mock  me,  dog!  with  indifference?  Is 
it  thus  that  you  do  the  work  you  are  paid  for  ?  " 

Gonzalez  shrank  from  before  him. 

"Pardon,  Excellency,"  he  stammered.  "Give 
me  time  to  finish.  Then  judge  whether  I  have  done 
my  work  well  or  ill.  It  was  on  board  the  Hilario 
that  he  came  to  La  Boca." 

Ybarra's  lips  closed  over  his  snarling  teeth  again. 
The  insane,  unreasoning  anger  in  his  eyes  gave 
place  to  a  horrid  mirth.  He  threw  back  his  head, 
and  laughed  aloud. 

"  It  was  on  the  Hilario  that  he  came  to  La  Boca ! 
You  have  done  well,  Joaquin.  On  the  day  that  I 
wed  the  dona  Beatriz  you  will  have  your  reward. 
Not  before  then,  for  the  treasury  is  almost  empty, 
but  not  a  day  later,  I  pledge  you  my  word.  You 
have  done  well." 

Gonzalez  felt  glad  that  he  had  been  allowed  to 
finish,  and  resolved  that  he  would  not  again  impart 
such  news  piecemeal.  It  was  too  dangerous  to 
trifle  with  the  Tiger.  Such  jests  were  all  too  apt  to 
recoil  on  the  jester's  head.  He  started  nervously  as 
the  President  gripped  his  arm  and  pointed  to  a 
floating  spar  on  the  still  boiling  surface  of  the  sea 
which  now  hid  the  Hilario,  but,  understanding  in- 
stantly, called  his  men  forward,  bade  them  open 


THE   TIGER'S   CLAWS  91 

fire  on  every  visible  object.  In  his  zeal  he  had  the 
President's  own  launch  manned,  was  about  to  set 
out  in  it  to  make  sure  that  the  process  of  extirpation 
was  quite  complete,  when  he  saw  a  little  low  grey 
motor-boat  shoot  suddenly  into  the  danger-zone, 
stop  there,  and  then  speed  seawards. 

Ybarra  had  also  seen  it.  He  cursed  Gonzalez  hotly 
for  his  slowness,  and  bade  him  capture  or  sink  the 
small  boat  whatever  effort  it  might  cost. 

"And  don't  be  long  about  it,  either,"  he  ordered 
contradictorily.  "  I'm  going  ashore  in  an  hour,  and 
I'll  want  the  launch." 

When  the  launch  got  back  he  was  waiting  it  at 
the  gangway,  in  no  very  amiable  frame  of  mind,  to 
judge  from  the  greeting  he  gave  its  occupants. 

"  Did  you  get  them  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"Si,  senor  Presidente,"  answered  Gonzalez  in  a 
propitiatory  tone,  "we  riddled  them  so  that  they 
sank,  but  only  after  a  stern  chase." 

He  lied;  the  men  about  him  knew  he  lied,  but  no 
one  dared  to  contradict  him.  The  Tiger's  temper 
was  altogether  too  variable  to  encourage  the  taking 
of  risks  in  the  cause  of  truth. 

"Make  ready  to  receive  my  lady  cousin,"  said 
that  personage  abruptly,  and  went  back  to  the 
cabin,  from  which  he  presently  emerged  with  Beatriz 
and  her  small  suite. 

Silence  obtained  among  them  on  the  way  shore- 
ward, but  at  the  landii  i^-stage  there  was  no  lack  of 
noise  and  light. 


92          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

La  Boca  was  ostensibly  and  ostentatiously  loyal 
to  the  party  in  power.  The  President  had  struck 
hard  at  the  revolutionary  movement  in  condemning 
the  Hilario  with  all  on  board  to  total  annihilation. 
The  town  was  ready  to  acclaim  him;  he  was  the 
hero  of  the  hour. 

It  was  known  also  that  his  cousin  was  on  board 
the  Mariposa;  florid  accounts  of  his  romantic 
passion  for  her  had  appeared  in  the  local  press; 
great  stress  was  laid  upon  her  wealth  and  power  and 
beauty;  she  was  the  favourite  daughter  of  San 
Benito. 

"  Viva  Ybarra !  Long  live  his  espoused ! "  was 
the  ceaseless  cry  of  the  mob  beyond  the  barriers, 
while  the  guns  boomed  and  rockets  spat  sky- 
wards. And  Beatriz,  on  his  arm,  passed  up  the 
crimson  carpet  between  two  thickets  of  bayonets, 
because  she  could  not  help  herself. 

Under  an  illuminated  arch  of  triumph  at  the 
street-corner  they  entered  an  open  carriage,  drawn 
by  four  splendid  horses,  while  the  troopers  of  the 
cavalry  escort  about  it  sat  with  swords  at  the  carry 
and  young  Von  Rudolf,  their  foreign  general,  swept 
hilt  to  chin  and  swore  beneath  his  breath  for  shame 
of  his  employment.  He  knew  himself  a  hireling, 
but  it  hurt  sorely  that  a  woman  of  the  outer  world 
should  be  witness  of  his  servitude.  The  day  had 
been  when  his  jewelled  sabre  had  shone  in  scenes 
less  tawdry,  with  a  coat  of  arms  upon  it  where  there 
Was  nothing  now  but  a  scratched  surface. 


THE   TIGER'S   CLAWS  93 

A  very  handsome  figure  was  the  young  general, 
gorgeously  uniformed  and  yet  no  mere  carpet -soldier, 
as  the  good  folk  of  La  Boca  had  cause  to  know. 
But  none  of  them  knew  the  story  of  why  he  had  sold 
himself  into  bondage,  or  that,  while  he  did  his  duty 
so  brilliantly,  he  hated  and  despised  the  country 
of  his  adoption.  The  bright  eyes  on  the  balconies 
there  had  no  attraction  for  his.  He  was  wondering 
where  he  had  seen  Fifi  before,  hoping  that  neither 
she  nor  the  bewitchingly  beautiful  woman  beside 
Ybarra  would  notice  him  in  his  shame. 

There  were  more  carriages  behind  for  such  of  the 
officials  as  were  privileged  to  attend  the  President. 
O'Dare  secured  the  first  of  these  and  into  that, 
despite  the  black  looks  of  the  others,  he  handed 
Fifi.  The  entourage  moved  off,  Von  Rudolf  riding 
at  Ybarra's  side,  his  restless  glance  on  Beatriz,  and 
drove  towards  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  in  which 
was  situated  the  private  residence  of  its  Governor, 
with  whom  His  Excellency  was  wont  to  reside  during 
his  visits  to  La  Boca. 

Having  traversed  the  main  streets  at  a  trot,  amid 
the  cheering  of  the  throng  and  showers  of  blossoms 
from  the  crowded  balconies,  in  response  to  which  His 
Excellency  bowed  most  graciously  while  Beatriz 
sat  motionless  beside  him,  they  came  to  a  more 
sparsely  populated  outskirt,  and,  leaving  that  also 
behind,  reached  a  long  low  white  edifice  set  well  back 
from  the  road  behind  trim  lawns.  Its  pillared  por- 
tico, ablaze  with  lamps,  was  guarded  by  armed  men. 


94 

Ybarra  helped  his  cousin  to  alight  and  led  her 
indoors  without  waiting  -for  his  host,  the  Governor. 
Her  two  retainers  followed  unhesitatingly.  Hearing 
their  footsteps  on  the  tessellated,  floor  Ybarra  stopped 
and  turned  towards  them. 

"Await  me  in  the  anteroom,"  he  said  peremptorily 
to  O'Dare.  "And  you,"  to  Fifi,  "may  follow  your 
mistress." 

"  I  am  at  Miss  Ybarra's  orders,"  O'Dare  answered 
carelessly. 

His  Excellency  looked  him  up  and  down  from 
under  narrowed  eyelids,  looked  past  him  at  the 
sentries  on  the  porch,  and  seemed  to  be  considering 
something. 

"  In  this  country ' '  he  was  beginning  softly, 

when  the  other  interrupted  him  without  regard  for 
etiquette. 

"  In  this  country — or  in  any  other,"  Dennis  O'Dare 
retorted  truculently,  "I'm  an  American  citizen, 
and  don't  you  forget  that,  my  friend.  Keep  your 
orders  for  your  own  servants." 

"Enough!"  snapped  Don  Ygnacio  furiously,  and 
went  his  way. 

It  led  him  to  a  locked  door,  which  he  opened  with 
a  master-key  attached  to  his  watch-chain.  He  mo- 
tioned to  the  others  that  they  should  pass  through 
and  closed  it  carefully  again,  sat  seats  for  the  two 
women  and  once  more  turned  to  the  recalcitrant 
Dennis. 

"  You  know  my  name  ?  "  he  asked,  and  the  sudden- 


THE  TIGER'S   CLAWS  95 

ness  of  the  question  hissed  between  set  teeth  was 
disconcerting. 

"You're  called  Ygnacio  Ybarra,  I  understand," 
said  O'Dare. 

"I'm  called  the  Tiger  of  San  Benito,"  His  Ex- 
cellency answered  in  a  grating  voice.  "You  will 
be  wise,  my  friend,  to  keep  clear  of  my  claws." 

"I'll  clip  'em  for  you  when  the  time  comes," 
O'Dare  promised  recklessly. 

"So  far  I  have  been  patient,  for  your  cousin's 
sake,  but — even  now  I  have  my  scissors  ready." 

He  shook  his  coat-sleeve,  holding  out  his  hand 
so  that  only  two  should  see  within  its  palm  the 
blue  muzzle  of  the  weapon  he  was  carrying  so  con- 
veniently. 

Ybarra  did  not  blanch,  but  stood  there  motionless. 

"You  are  a  braver  man  than  I  had  thought  you, 
sefior  secretario,"  he  remarked  without  a  tremor. 
"I  wonder — is  this — this  gentleman  to  be  trusted, 
Beatriz  ?  "  he  asked  of  his  cousin  in  a  changed  tone. 
"  Can  you  assure  me  that  he  has  no  connection  with 
the  insurgent  party?" 

She  looked  across  at  Dennis  with  anxious  eyes,  and 
he  bowed  in  response. 

"I'll  give  you  my  word  for  that,"  she  answered 
relievedly. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Ybarra.  "  I  think  I  can  find 
use  for  him.  We'll  keep  him  with  us.  I  had 
intended 

"Excuse  me  for  a  few  moments." 


96          THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE       . 

He  went  over  to  the  door,  at  which  a  low  knock 
had  sounded,  and  admitted  half  a  dozen  men,  all 
in  resplendent  uniform  save  one.  That  one  was 
Gonzalez,  and  he  seemed  strangely  perturbed. 

He  scowled  when  he  saw  O'Dare  in  the  back- 
ground, but  took  no  other  notice  of  him.  The 
others  had  their  turn  of  audience  and  disappeared 
before  the  President  led  his  spy  to  one  side  and 
entered  into  low-toned  conversation  with  him. 

"Excellency,"  the  spy  said,  "there  is  bad  news 
to  tell.  Two  men  escaped  from  the  Hilario,  and 
one  was  the  cursed  Americano,  Corbyn. 

"  And  worse,"  he  went  on  hurriedly  while  his 
employer  glared  at  him  in  speechless  anger.  "A 
number  of  men  and  horses  have  been  landed  behind 
Punta  Gorda  since  the  troops  there  were  withdrawn 
to  attend  you  here.  And  they  are  not  natives  of 
San  Benito." 

Ybarra  bit  his  lips  till  the  blood  came,  but  re- 
strained all  outward  expression  of  anger  in  his 
cousin's  presence.  It  would  not  have  been  politic 
to  display  his  true  temper  just  then. 

"You  told  me  you  had  sunk  the  boat  we  saw," 
he  said  in  a  terrible  whisper. 

"Had  they  been  in  it  they  would  not  now  be  alive," 
Gonzalez  asserted  recklessly.  "We  sank  her  far 
out  at  sea.  They  got  ashore  by  the  inner  bay. 
They  must  have  passed  the  Mariposa.  The  search- 
light should  have  been  used  on  all  sides,  not  only 
seawards." 


THE  TIGER'S   CLAWS  97 

His  clever  argument  impressed  Ybarra.  In  any 
case  recrimination  was  now  futile. 

"  You  will  lay  hands  on  him  instantly,"  the  Presi- 
dent commanded,  "and — you  know  what  to  do 
with  him." 

Gonzalez  grinned  evilly. 

"Or,  stay!  I  may  have  use  for  him  alive.  I 
might  set  a  price  on  his  safety." 

He  glanced  toward  Beatriz,  and  almost  chuckled 
to  think  how  fortune  was  favouring  him  in  spite 
of  himself. 

"You  lay  hands  on  him,"  he  repeated,  "and 
clap  him  in  prison.  Let  him  rough  it  with  the 
common  herd,  but  I'll  hold  you  answerable  that 
he's  still  alive  when  I  send  for  him.  The  worse 
he  looks  then  the  more  sympathy  he'll  excite — in 
the  proper  quarter — but  see  to  it  that  he's  still  able 
to  speak  for  himself  when  the  time  comes. 

"And  as  to  those  others How  many  made 

landing  ?  " 

"The  peasant  who  brought  word  thinks  there 
must  have  been  about  a  hundred." 

Ybarra  tugged  at  his  black  moustache.  "Who 
knows  where  they  have  come  from ! "  he  soliloquised 
fretfully.  "In  any  case,  I  cannot  afford  to  start 
fighting  on  this  side  of  the  Pass  till  I'm  forced  to  it. 
I  must  go  on  to  Alta  Cruz.  Yes,  there's  no  help 
for  it.  And  they  can't  follow  me  there,  whoever 
they  are.  Send  me  word  to  the  post  at  the 
summit,  Gonzalez.  Now,  go." 
7 


98          THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

He  turned  back  towards  the  waiting  trio. 

"We  leave  at  once,"  he  said.  "I  had  hoped  to 
rest  here  until  to-morrow,  but  it  seems  that  our 
road  is  safer  in  the  dark  than  during  daylight. 
Come,  Beatriz." 

They  followed  him  obediently  through  a  cur- 
tained door-way  in  the  rear,  across  a  covered  court 
where  there  was  a  tinkling  fountain  among  low 
palm-trees,  and  out  into  the  open  air. 

Armed  men  were  waiting  at  the  exit  also,  and, 
beyond  them,  the  two  carriages  they  had  come  in 
were  dimly  visible,  drivers  on  seats,  postilions  in 
saddle,  grooms  at  the  horses'  heads. 

Von  Rudolf  came  forward,  spurred  and  booted, 
and  the  President  held  consultation  with  him  for 
an  instant. 

"Take  the  first  carriage,"  O'Dare  was  told,  and 
he  helped  Fifi  into  it,  while  the  young  soldier  drew 
back  but  still  followed  her  with  puzzled  eyes. 

Ybarra  and  his  cousin  entered  the  other,  Von 
Rudolf  mounted  and  rode  off,  to  head  the  cortege, 
which  started  almost  silently.  A  galloping  advance- 
guard  cleared  the  way  for  it  and  a  troop  of  car- 
bineers followed  in  rear. 

Travelling  at  a  swift  pace,  despite  the  bad  repair 
in  which  the  narrow  suburban  roads  seemed  to  be 
kept,  Fifi  and  Dennis  O'Dare  found  it  all  they 
could  do  to  maintain  their  respective  corners  as 
the  cumbersome  vehicle  bumped  and  swung  and 
jolted  to  and  fro  upon  its  leathern  slings.  Yet 


THE  TIGER'S   CLAWS  99 

they  were  not  ill-content  with  their  lot,  if  one  might 
judge  from  their  cheerful  acceptance  of  a  by  no 
means  over-cheerful  situation. 

A  thunder-storm  was  brewing  among  the  moun- 
tains above  them  and  pitch  darkness  covered  the 
landscape  with  a  heavy  pall. 

"I  wonder  where  we're  bound  for  now,"  said 
O'Dare  jerkily.  "We've  left  all  the  houses  behind 
and  there  isn't  a  light  to  be  seen.  I  hope  our  cabby 
knows  the  road." 

"He's  sure  to,"  Fifi  answered  literally,  "or  the 
President  would  not  employ  him.  And  I  overheard 
them  speaking  of  Alta  Cruz,  wherever  that  is.  It's 
too  late  now  to  worry;  we'll  have  to  wait  and  see 
what  happens." 

"I guess  you're  right,"  agreed  Dennis  admiringly. 
"  I  was  half  afraid  you  would  be  worried  by  all  this 
bustle.  It's  been  such  a  queer  journey  since  the 
start.  We've  scarcely  had  time  to  think." 

"I'd  have  felt  horribly  frightened  if  you  hadn't 
been  with  us,"  she  admitted  naively;  "but  you're 
so  brave,  Denny." 

"Me!"  he  protested,  smitten  with  astonishment. 
"My  heart's  been  in  my  boots  most  of  the  time." 

"The  ones  you  left  up-stairs  in  Twenty-Third 
Street?"  she  asked  roguishly,  for  he  had  told  her 
the  story  of  that  ill-starred  exploit. 

"The  ones  at  your  feet  now,"  he  replied  auda- 
ciously and  so  fell  silent. 

For  a  long  time  there  was  naught  to  be  heard  but 


100        THE  GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

the  dull  rumble  of  their  upward  progress,  the  fall 
of  the  whip-lash,  the  straining  of  the  horses  at  the 
traces.  After  a  seemingly  endless  struggle  they 
reached  the  crest  of  the  high  hill  they  had  been 
climbing,  and  without  a  moment's  pause  plunged 
downward  on  a  slope  so  steep  that  their  pace  could 
not  but  be  dangerous. 

"I  haven't  felt  so  intense  since  the  last  time  I 
was  at  Coney  Island,"  O'Dare  confided  to  his  com- 
panion, making  light  of  the  risk  to  soothe  her 
trembling.  He  had  possessed  himself  of  her  hand. 
"Shooting  the  chutes  is  child's  play  compared 
wi^h  sliding  sideways  down  the  Andes.  Whew! 
What  was  that?" 

A  spark  had  shot  across  the  window.  Another 
followed  it.  Their  speed  was  slackening.  More 
sparks  and  larger.  Slower  still.  They  stopped  be- 
fore a  blazing  camp-fire  upon  a  plateau  on  the 
mountainside. 

Men  flew  to  the  horses'  heads.  There  were 
fresh  ones  waiting  to  take  their  places. 

Other  men  came  to  the  carriage  door  and  stood 
there  expectantly. 

O'Dare  let  down  the  window  which  he  had  closed 
on  account  of  the  dust  and  looked  out.  They 
bared  their  heads  and  bowed  before  him. 

"If  you  think  I'm  his  nibs,  you  must  guess 
again,"  he  remarked  in  a  conversational  tone,  "but 
if  any  one  of  you  can  speak  any  known  language, 
I'd  be  glad  of  a  few  words  with  that  one." 


THE   TIGER'S   CLAWS  101 

"You're  an  American?"  asked  a  voice  from  the 
background. 

"  I  have  that  honor,"  answered  O'Dare. 

"Where  is  His  Excellency?" 

"I  can't  say  for  sure,  but  I'm  inclined  to  think 
he'll  run  slap  into  us  presently." 

This  information  turned  into  Spanish  by  his 
questioner  set  the  others  moving  up  the  road,  and  left 
the  interpreter  by  himself  at  the  door. 

"Any  news  worth  telling?"  inquired  that  in- 
dividual. 

"  WTiere  are  we  ?  "  demanded  Dennis. 

"Half-way  between  La  Boca  and  Alta  Cruz. 
Didn't  you  know?" 

"I  know  next  to  nothing.  Who  are  our  friends 
here?" 

"  Camp  of  the  Tenth  Infantry,  guarding  the  Pass.' ' 

"Against  what?" 

"Oh,  the  revolutionists.  What's  your  line,  any- 
way ?  You're  one  of  the  President's  people,  aren't 
you?" 

"Not  by  a  long  mile,  my  friend.  Thanks  for 
the  compliment,  but  I'm  not  that  sort  of  wild  beast. 
Not  by  a  long  mile.  I'm  private  secretary  to 
Miss  Ybarra,  and  my  name's  O'Dare.  What's 
yours  ?  " 

The  invisible  stranger  came  forward  and  leaned 
over  the  window-sill,  looking  intently  at  Dennis  by 
the  flickering  firelight. 

"I'm  Challoner — of  the  New  York  Wireless,"  he 


102        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

said  in  a  low  tone.  "You  don't  happen  to  know  a 
man  called  Meggs,  do  you?" 

"  Never  heard  of  the  gentleman,"  answered  O'Dare 
very  cheerfully. 

"Sorry  I  spoke.  Look  out!  Here's  the  other 
carriage." 

A  grievous  jerk  and  they  were  off  again  with  four 
fresh  horses :  but  the  stranger  clung  to  the  step  for 
a  moment. 

"Don't  mention  Meggs'  name  up  above,"  he 
begged  earnestly  ere  he  dropped  off. 

Dennis  O'Dare  snorted  wrathfully. 

"Why  the  deuce  should  I  mention  Meggs'  name 
up  above!"  he  demanded.  "I  don't  suppose  the 
grocer  would  give  me  a  packet  of  breakfast  food  if 
I  did.  I've  more  to  do  than  run  round  South 
America  mentioning  names!" 

He  turned  to  look  out  at  the  grey  dawn  creeping 
down  the  steep  mountainside,  and  straightway  for- 
got all  else  in  sharing  with  Fifi  the  sight  of  its 
gathering  splendour. 

Challoner  had  already  run  back  to  the  second 
conveyance,  around  which  a  ring  of  guards  had 
already  been  stationed  and,  after  some  argument, 
was  allowed  to  approach  His  Excellency. 

"  Who's  that  ? "  Ybarra  demanded  suspiciously. 

"  You  special  correspondents  are  a  perfect  curse ! " 
he  cried  after  the  other  had  explained.  "There's 
nothing  I  can  tell  you  to-night,"  he  added  in  a  more 
conciliatory  tone.  "  You  are  aware,  no  doubt,  that 


THE   TIGER'S   CLAWS  103 

I  was  forced  to  sink  the  Hilario  at  her  moorings  in 
La  Boca.  They  were  about  to  open  fire  upon  me 
from  on  board.  The  revolution  is  practically  crushed 
and  I'm  on  my  way  back  to  the  capital.  That's 
all  there  is  to  it.  Tell  your  paper  that  I  rule  with 
a  firm  hand." 

He  spoke  in  English,  and  his  cousin,  hearing  that, 
came  forth.  But  he  interposed  in  such  wise  that 
Challoner  had  to  give  place  without  the  opportunity 
for  more  than  a  surreptitious  glance  at  her. 

"Why  aren't  those  horses  yoked  in?"  shouted 
His  Excellency  stormily.  "I'm  waiting — I,  the 
President  of  San  Benito! 

"  Let  me  assist  you  to  your  seat,  Beatriz.  Your 
pardon,  but  time  presses.  Daylight  brings  danger." 

He  shut  the  door,  and  spoke  sharply  to  the  officers 
clustered  about  the  open  window.  An  orderly 
brought  him  a  bundle  of  telegrams  from  the  field- 
station  where  they  had  tapped  the  line  between  La 
Boca  and  Alta  Cruz. 

He  took  them  eagerly  and,  opening  one  after 
another  with  great  rapidity,  read  their  contents  by 
the  fire-light,  tearing  them  into  fragments  as  he 
finished.  The  last  proved  singularly  displeasing 
to  him,  and  he  swore  bitterly  under  his  breath  as  he 
read  it  through  a  second  time,  an  attention  he  had 
bestowed  on  none  of  the  others. 

"So  soon!"  he  muttered,  and  seemed  to  be  en- 
grossed in  cogitation  until  he  called  the  telegraph 
orderly  over  and  gave  him  a  low-voiced  message. 


104        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"  Make  sure  that  he  gets  it — if  you  have  any  re- 
gard for  yourself,"  he  finished  with  threat  in  his 
tone. 

The  man  saluted  cringingly  and  withdrew.  His 
Excellency  gave  the  word,  whips  cracked,  and  he 
was  whirled  away. 

Challoner  had  already  retired  unobtrusively,  and 
before  he  had  been  missed  was  safely  in  the  saddle, 
breasting  the  upward  road  on  his  way  back  to  La 
Boca. 

"I'll  take  no  chances  with  that  crowd,"  he  said 
to  himself  with  a  sagacious  shake  of  the  head. 
"When  Don  Ygnacio  shows  disapproval  his  under- 
lings are  apt  to  do  the  same." 

On  the  summit  he  dismounted  and  led  his  horse 
off  the  road  to  a  safe  distance.  It  stood  there  panting, 
while  he  unstrapped  from  the  saddle  a  pair  of  sharp- 
edged  wire-cutters  and  a  small  canvas-covered  case 
containing  a  complete  equipment  for  "  tapping  "  the 
telegraph  wires. 

With  the  aid  of  these  he  was  presently  able  to 
read  off  the  President's  message  to  Gonzalez. 

"  That's  the  worst  possible  news,"  he  told  himself 
frowningly. 

"Meggs  must  have  landed,  but  what  beats  me 
is  how  he  could  get  into  so  much  trouble  in  such  a 
short  time.  He's  certainly  broken-  all  records  in 
that  respect.  I  rather  fancy  I'll  find  the  Golden 
Eagle  in  ruins  when  I  get  there." 


CHAPTER  VII 

WHAT  THE   BLIND    BEGGAR   SAW. 

"WHAT  were  you  doing  in  San  Benito  before, 
Corbyn?"  Allardyce  asked,  as  he  and  his  friend 
strode  down-hill  toward  La  Boca. 

"Nothing  in  particular,"  the  other  answered. 
"  I  took  a  West  Indian  trip  one  winter — in  my  more 
wealthy  days,  before  Dad  left  me  to  my  own  devices 
— and  stopped  off  here  with  some  other  fellows.  I 
wanted  to  see  what  the  place  was  like.  We  went 
up  to  Alta  Cruz,  in  the  mountains,  and  had  a  good 
time  generally." 

"  What  sort  of  chap  is  the  Tiger  ?  " 

Corbyn's  brow  darkened. 

"I've  never  met  him,"  he  said,  "but  I've  heard 
a  good  deal  about  him  one  way  and  the  other,  and — 
I'd  help  to  hang  him  without  any  scruples  of  con- 
science. He  has  none." 

"Speak  of  the  devil!"  exclaimed  Allardyce. 
"Here  he  comes." 

They  sought  in  vain  for  an  avenue  of  escape  as  the 

advance-guard  of  the  President's  procession  came 

trotting  round  a  corner,  and  at  last  crouched  as  close 

as  they  dared  to  the  tall  cactus-plants  which  lined 

105 


106        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

both  sides  of  the  roadway  there.  Corbyn  caught 
sight  of  a  known  face  in  the  first  carriage,  and  almost 
cried  out  in  the  extremity  of  his  amazement,  while 
Allardyce  all  but  fell  back  among  the  cruel  spikes 
behind  him  as  he  saw  Fifi  Florian  and  O'Dare 
driven  swiftly  past  in  the  second.  He  had  half 
risen  as  if  to  follow  them  when  Corbyn  clutched  at 
his  arm  and  dragged  him  down  again,  but  too  late. 
Gonzalez  was  staring  with  intent  malevolence  in 
their  direction  from  the  front  seat  of  one  of  the 
following  vehicles.  He  spoke  to  a  lean,  dwarf-like, 
dried-up  individual  seated  beside  him,  who  also 
peered  back  at  them  but  could  see  little  through 
the  dust.  More  carriages  and  then  the  rear-guard 
rattled  past,  leaving  them  coughing  by  the  roadside, 
with  choked  lungs.  There  was  no  time  to  be  wasted. 

"  Get  a  move  on,"  Corbyn  commanded.  "  Gon- 
zalez will  send  back  immediately." 

They  took  to  their  heels  at  their  best  speed,  but 
treading  carefully  that  they  might  leave  no  avoid- 
able trail,  and  left  the  highway  at  the  first  cross-road, 
climbed  a  sod  wall  and  threw  themselves  down  in  the 
long  lucerne  it  enclosed.  They  saw  that  their  fears 
had  not  been  groundless,  for  almost  immediately  three 
lancers  and  a  non-commissioned  officer  went  canter- 
ing past  their  place  of  refuge  towards  the  town,  scan- 
ning the  shadows  carefully. 

Corbyn  sat  up  as  the  jingle  of  their  accoutrements 
died  away  in  the  distance,  and  Allardyce  laughed 
cheerfully. 


WHAT   THE   BLIND   BEGGAR  SAW  107 

"They're  on  a  wild-goose  chase,"  said  he,  "and 
we're  the  wild  geese.  Gonzalez  will  be  wilder  when 
they  get  back  without  us.  What  do  you  think  of 
Denny,  Corbyn  ?  Isn't  he  one  of  the  seven  wonders ! 
And  Fifi,  too !  Wliat  are  we  going  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

Corbyn  made  no  reply,  and  he  continued  without 
waiting  any. 

"How  in  thunder  did  he  get  here,  eh?  And 
what  is  he  doing  with  Fifi  in  that  circus,  anyway  ? 
What  does  it  all  mean,  Corbyn?  It's  a  Chinese 
puzzle  to  me." 

"Allardyce,"  his  companion  broke  in,  and  the 
Englishman  looked  at  him  in  surprise,  so  tensely 
strained  was  his  tone,  "did  you  notice  the  girl  be- 
side Ybarra  in  the  first  carriage  ? " 

"  I  got  a  glimpse  and  no  more  of  a  very  beautiful 
face." 

"That  was  the  face  you  saw  on  my  easel  one 
day,  and  admired  so  much.  I — I  sent  it  to  the 
Academy." 

"The  deuce  it  was!"  Allardyce  whistled  softly. 
He  was  much  interested.  Here  promised  ro- 
mance. 

"I've  never  told  you  before,"  Corbyn  continued, 

"  because Oh,  you  understand.  I'm  too  poor, 

for  one  thing.  And  she's  enormously  wealthy.  But 
she  had  promised  to  wait  for  me,  and — I  know  now 
that  she  won't  break  her  word.  She  told  me  once 
that  she  would  never  set  foot  in  this  country  again 
of  her  own  free  will." 


108        THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

"  Who  is  she  ?  "  asked  Allardyce,  still  in  the  dark. 

"Beatriz  Ybarra.  She's  a  half -cousin  of  that — • 
of  the  President,  and  he's  asked  her  more  than  once 
to  many  him.  He's  desperately  hard  up,  and  she — 
she's  afraid  of  him,  Allardyce.  Challoner  must 
have  referred  to  her  when  he  spoke  of  the  troubles 
here.  I  know  she  hasn't  come  to  San  Benito  will- 
ingly. And  now  I  must  find  out,  if  I  can,  where  that 
scoundrel  has  taken  her.  If  anything  happens  me 
and  I  don't  turn  up  again,  you'll  explain  to  Meggs." 

He  held  out  a  hand  that  shook  in  spite  of  himself, 
but  the  other  ignored  it. 

"I'm  going  with  you,"  said  Allardyce  gruffly. 

They  turned  back  to  the  highway,  without  more 
words,  and  followed  it  cautiously  but  at  a  swift  pace 
in  the  direction  from  which  they  had  come. 

"There's  been  foul  play,"  Corbyn  muttered 
miserably.  "There  may  be  more.  I  can  see  now 
why  Gonzalez  was  so  anxious  to  get  my  studio,  and 
why  I  got  no  reply  to  my  letters. 

"She  had  been  in  Europe,  Allardyce,  since  her 
father  died,  and  on  the  day  she  landed  I  was  at 
Florian's  funeral.  I  wrote  her,  though,  and  wrote 
again,  without  getting  an  answer.  I  wrote  a  third 
time,  and  then  I — I  supposed  she  had  made  up  her 
mind  to  drop  me.  My  poverty  was  more  than 
sufficient  excuse.  I  had  called  at  her  hotel,  too. 
They  asked  my  name  and  then  told  me  she  was  not 
at  home.  That's  why  I  joined  Meggs." 

Allardyce  had  listened  intently. 


WHAT  THE  BLIND  BEGGAR  SAW  109 

"  There's  some  mystery  about  the  whole  business," 
said  he.  "Denny's  disappearance — and  turning 
up  here  in  her  company.  It  seems  to  me  that  he 
must  have  strayed  out  during  the  night  and  been 

kidnapped  by  Gonzalez But  that  doesn't  matter 

at  present.  What There's  the  show  starting  off 

again — there  among  the  trees." 

They  ran  like  men  possessed,  but  the  distance 
was  too  great.  Ere  they  could  reach  the  turn  of 
the  road  the  shadowy  cavalcade  Allardyce  had  ob- 
served sweep  past  the  end  of  the  low  white  building 
had  gained  the  highway  and  disappeared  at  a  canter. 
A  gaping  countryman  stood  looking  after  the  cloud 
of  dust  it  had  left,  and  of  him  they  sought  information. 

There  were  two  carriages  only,  he  told  them. 
The  President  and  his  party,  another  man  and  two 
ladies,  just  four,  all  told.  Off  for  Alta  Cruz, 
since  the  road  led  nowhere  else.  That  might  be 
fifty  miles,  or  maybe  a  hundred.  He  had  never 
been  there,  and  could  not  say  to  within  an  odd 
mile  or  so.  But  it  was  over  the  mountains,  and  a 
long  way.  He  took  the  coin  that  Corbyn  offered, 
and  slouched  away,  dully  indifferent. 

"  It's  eighty  miles  by  rail,"  Corbyn  told  Allardyce, 
"and  the  road  should  be  shorter." 

He  stood  still,  cogitating  in  great  distress  of  mind, 
and  his  friend  put  forward  no  suggestion. 

"  We  had  better  get  back  to  the  Golden  Eagle," 
he  said  at  length,  and  they  once  more  retraced  their 
steps. 


110        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"That  was  why  Gonzalez  was  so  anxious  to  get 
my  studio,"  he  reiterated  by  the  way.  "What  a 
blind  fool  I  was  to  distrust  her  so  easily !  The  least 
I  might  have  done  was  to  get  her  dismissal  by  word 
of  mouth.  That's  where  my  cursed  pride  has  cost 
me  a  fall.  And  now  she's  here,  in  the  net.  They've 
trapped  her  at  last — and  perhaps  through  me. 

"Allardyce,  I  must  cut  loose  from  Meggs.  I 
must  go  to  her.  She's  in  the  gravest  danger.  It 
will  be  my  fault  if  she  comes  to  any  harm  here." 

"We'll  go  together,  old  chap,"  said  Allardyce 
soothingly,  for  Corbyn  was  strangely  excited. 
"  Meggs  will  let  us  go  willingly.  If  there's  no  news 
of  him  we'll  leave  word  explaining.  He'll  under- 
stand. We'll  get  a  move  on  first  thing  to-morrow 
and  reach  Alta  Cruz  almost  as  soon  as  she." 

Corbyn  nodded  and  no  more  was  said  in  the 
mean  time.  They  took  to  a  dark  side-lane  which 
ran  parallel  with  the  main  road,  and  presently 
emerged  within  the  busier  centre  of  La  Boca,  a 
network  of  narrow  streets,  some  paved  with  wood, 
others  all  but  impassable  by  reason  of  the  pristine 
cobblestones. 

Electric  cars  whizzed  past  on  some  of  the  streets, 
and  high-wheeled  carts  with  strings  of  patient  oxen 
in  their  yokes  crept  along  others.  Some  were  well- 
lighted,  lined  with  stores  which  would  have  graced 
an  Old  World  city;  others  had  only  murky  oil 
lamps  at  great  intervals,  and  still  seemed  to  smell  of 
mediaeval  Spain  and  mystery. 


WHAT  THE   BLIND   BEGGAR  SAW  111 

Through  these,  however,  the  two  wanderers  took 
their  way,  eschewing  glare  for  gloom  and  courting 
privacy  rather  than  publicity. 

"Our  friend  forgot  to  tell  us  where  the  Golden 
Eagle  has  its  eyrie,"  Corbyn  observed  more  calmly, 
as  they  debouched  upon  a  shabby  square  surrounded 
by  squat  buildings,  and  boasting  four  gaunt  bushes 
for  sole  ornament.  "I  don't  remember  it.  We'll 
have  to  ask  our  way  before  we  go  much  farther." 

"We'd  better  take  a  cab,"  said  Allardyce.  "It's 
doubling  the  risk,  and  halving  the  difficulty.  I 
don't  think  we  should  face  the  electrics  on 
foot." 

They  stopped,  and  presently  a  ramshackle  vic- 
toria crawled  past. 

They  hailed  it  and  had  jumped  in  before  the 
drowsy  driver  had  finished  his  yawning  fit. 

"  Al  Aguila  de  Oro,"  ordered  Allardyce  in  a  hoarse 
voice. 

"Si,  senor,"  the  driver  answered  civilly.  "En  la 
calle  18  de  Junio." 

He  drove  along  the  main  street  in  the  direction 
from  which  they  had  come  and  they  sat  back  with 
folded  arms,  their  soft  hats  drawn  well  down.  Three 
lancers  and  a  non-commissioned  officer  came  clatter- 
ing past  them,  and  they  puffed  very  nervously  at 
their  cigars,  but  in  the  end  they  reached  the  Golden 
Eagle  safely. 

It  was,  according  to  the  sign  above  the  gateway, 
an  unassuming  fonda  y  posada,  a  humble  inn  for 


112         THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

the  accommodation  of  the  country-folk  and  the 
great  carts  they  came  to  town  in.  The  courtyard 
was  crowded  with  the  latter  and  the  lowing  of  oxen 
sounded  from  its  adjacent  outhouses. 

The  street  on  which  it  stood  was  an  ill-lighted  and 
empty  relic  of  a  former  age.  It  would  not  have  been 
easy  to  discover  a  spot  more  suited  to  their  im- 
mediate needs. 

Allardyce  paid  and  dismissed  the  cabman  with  an 
assumption  of  indifference  which  he  was  far  from 
feeling. 

. "  I  didn't  dare  to  ask  how  much  he  wanted,  but 
I  guess  I  hit  the  right  figure,  plus  a  fair  tip,  first 
time,"  he  told  Corbyn  complacently.  "I'll  bet  he 
thinks  we  know  La  Boca  to  its  foundations.  It 
wouldn't  have  been  wise  to  let  him  know  we  are 
strangers." 

They  entered  a  long,  narrow  room  which  ap- 
parently combined  the  attributes  of  cafe,  bar,  and 
office.  It  was  grudgingly  lit  and  sparsely  occupied 
by  groups  of  dust-grimed  carreteros  quenching  the 
thirst  engendered  by  their  day's  journey. 

These  took  no  notice  of  the  new  arrivals,  who 
passed  onward  to  the  desk  which  overlooked  a 
pewter-covered  counter,  behind  which  a  black- 
gowned  woman  of  ample  proportions  was  counting 
the  contents  of  her  till. 

"  Have  you  rooms  for  two  ? "  Allardyce  asked 
her  after  exchange  of  greetings.  She  looked  up 
without  displaying  any  undue  interest. 


WHAT  THE   BLIND   BEGGAR  SAW  113 

"It  depends  on  who  the  two  are,"  she  answered 
slowly.  "The  senores  have  no  baggage?" 

"We  had — on  the  Hilario,"  he  said  in  a  low 
tone  and  his  eyes  did  not  fall  before  her  startled 
glance. 

"If  you  are  for  the  Reds,"  she  whispered,  "I 
cannot  house  you  here." 

"We  are  not  for  the  Reds,  but  for  the  rose,"  he 
ventured,  pointing  to  the  fresh  flower  which  stood 
in  a  vase  at  one  corner  of  her  desk. 

"Chombo!"  she  cried  aloud,  and  a  mulatto  ser- 
vant came  shuffling  in.  "Show  the  senores  to  the 
rooms  on  the  balcony,"  she  whispered  to  him. 

They  followed  the  slipshod  Chombo  across  an 
inner  court  upon  which  opened  many  doorways,  up 
a  steep  wooden  stair,  and  through  a  narrow  passage 
to  an  outer  gallery  overhanging  what  seemed  to  be 
a  back  street.  From  the  balcony  they  entered  two 
connecting  bedrooms,  shabby  and  sparsely  furnished. 

Their  guide  drew  the  curtains  closely  across  the 
doors  and  lit  a  couple  of  candles. 

"Be  very  circumspect,  caballeros,"  he  said,  and 
slipped  away  without  another  word. 

Corbyn  followed  him  as  far  as  the  passage,  but 
paused  there  to  examine  a  heavy  iron  grating  hooked 
back  against  the  wall  about  half  way  through.  It 
worked  on  hinges;  he  pulled  and  it  came  smoothly 
to;  there  were  strong  bolts  on  either  side. 

He  shot  those  next  him  and  went  back  well  pleased. 

"We're  safe  as  a  church,"  he  told  his  friend. 
8 


114        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"  There's  a  portcullis  at  the  entrance  and  I've  closed 
it." 

"How  high  are  we  above  the  street?"  asked 
Allardyce,  and,  crossing  to  the  outer  rail,  he  dropped 
a  coin.  It  fell  tinkling  on  the  cobbles  below. 

"Too  high  for  any  one  to  climb  without  a  good 
long  ladder,"  he  concluded.  "  I  don't  think  any  one 
will  interfere  with  us  to-night." 

"Did  you  notice  that  blind  beggar  at  the  street- 
corner  as  we  drove  up  ?  "  asked  Corbyn. 

"I  noticed  nothing  but  those  confounded 
lancers." 

"He  was  standing  there  as  we  came  in,"  the  other 
continued,  "feeling  about  him  with  a  stick.  I 
seemed  to  recognise  him  somehow,  although  I  can't 
see  how  that  could  be  possible.  In  any  case,  he 
started  when  your  face  showed  under  the  lamp  at 
the  entrance.  I  don't  like  blind  men  who  are  able 
to  interest  themselves  in  us  to  that  extent." 

The  Englishman  looked  grave. 

"You  give  me  the  creeps,"  he  answered.  "I 
don't  think  I'll  undress." 

"Nor  I,"  said  Corbyn. 

They  blew  the  lights  out  and  lay  down  fully 
clothed.  Allardyce  fell  asleep  instantly,  but  Corbyn 
tossed  and  turned  for  some  time  before  he  dropped 
into  a  troubled  doze.  His  wound  was  stiffening 
and  was  more  painful  now,  but  it  was  his  thoughts 
that  hurt  most.  He  was  thinking  of  a  very  beau- 
tiful face,  seen  but  for  an  instant  through  dust  and 


WHAT  THE   BLIND  BEGGAR  SAW  115 

darkness,  and  of  the  cruel,  triumphant  features 
dimly  outlined  beside  it. 

It  was  late  that  night  before  La  Boca  settled 
down  after  the  day's  events.  The  presence  of  the 
President  had,  as  usual,  provided  incident.  The 
citizens  were  well  pleased  with  such  an  excuse  for 
lingering  about  the  clubs  and  cafes.  They  knew 
he  was  to  spend  the  night  at  the  Governor's  villa. 
There  might  be  further  entertainment  for  them 
before  morning. 

Nor  were  they  disappointed  in  their  expectations, 
for  presently  there  came  upon  them  out  of  the  by- 
streets a  troop  of  horsemen,  who  abused  them  with 
the  flat  of  sword-blades  to  such  purpose  that,  within 
five  minutes,  the  thoroughfares  were  empty,  and 
every  idler  was  indoors,  to  stay. 

There  were  no  two  ways  about  anything  when 
the  Tiger  of  San  Benito  saw  fit  to  shake  his  mailed 
fist  in  the  direction  of  the  timid  townfolk. 

The  swarthy  troopers  sneered  to  each  other  as  the 
populace  melted  into  thin  air  before  them,  but  made 
no  noise,  since  that  had  been  forbidden.  Even  their 
shaggy  ponies  scurried  soundlessly  from  point  to 
point,  for  each  had  pads  of  felt  made  fast  to  the 
calkins,  in  accordance  with  Von  Rudolf's  ideas  of 
strategy,  as  applied  to  night-work  within  the  walls. 

So  sudden  and  unexpected  had  been  their  ap- 
pearance that  no  news  of  their  coming  could  spread, 
and  they  were  able  to  draw  a  close  cordon  round 
the  Golden  Eagle  without  the  inmates  of  that  hos- 


116        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

telry  being  aware  that  it  was  the  objective  of  the 
expedition. 

The  blind  beggar  who  was  swearing  at  the 
closed  grating  which  blocked  his  way  to  the  rear 
balcony  heard  the  muffled  thud  of  horses'  feet  on  the 
uneven  causeway,  and,  turning  about  with  marvel- 
lous celerity  in  spite  of  his  affliction,  was  able  to  get 
the  great  gates  fast  before  the  storming-party 
reached  them. 

And  even  after  the  officer  in  charge  had  thundered 
long  and  loudly  on  their  oaken  panels,  it  took  time 
to  wake  the  Golden  Eagle  to  a  proper  sense  of  that 
which  was  required  of  it. 

First  came  to  the  grated  spy-hole  at  the  outer  gate 
an  old  and  deaf  and  decrepit  woman,  who  could  not 
be  brought  to  understand  that  she  must  open  to 
the  law  and  that  without  delay. 

"Thieves  and  assassins!"  she  screeched  to  the 
raging  leader.  "Wait  where  you  are  till  I  call  my 
mistress.  Robbers  and  murderers!  Be  patient, 
but  for  a  moment." 

They  heard  her  hobbling  off  still  muttering  male- 
dictions on  them.  It  took  ten  long  minutes  to  bring 
back  the  proprietress,  who  had  many  apologies  to 
make  for  the  unfortunate  delay  and  sent  her  on  a 
second  errand  for  the  keys. 

These  found,  the  soldiery  rushed  in,  invaded 
every  corner,  dragged  all  the  other  inmates  from 
their  beds  and  stood  them  shivering  in  the  courtyard. 

Corbyn  awoke  to  hear  them  hammering  at  the 


WHAT   THE   BLIND   BEGGAR  SAW  117 

grating  in  the  passage  and  Allardyce  sprang  up  at 
the  same  instant.  They  were  ignorant  of  what 
the  noise  presaged,  but  it  was  evident  that  there 
was  something  wrong. 

They  ran  out  into  the  open,  and  stood  listening 
for  a  moment. 

"We'd  better  bolt,"  suggested  Corbyn. 

It  was  no  time  to  hesitate.  They  clambered  over 
the  balcony  rail,  let  go  together,  and  dropped  into 
the  darkness. 

Swift  shadows  darted  on  them  as  they  fell.  They 
fought  and  struggled  vainly.  The  trap  was  too  well 
set,  and  they  were  prisoners. 

A  crash  and  a  cloud  of  dust  overhead  proclaimed 
that  the  grating  had  given  way  to  violent  methods. 
Lights  appeared  on  the  balcony.  They  could  hear 
cries  of  rage  and  disappointment. 

A  lantern  flashed  on  them  from  above. 

"  Have  you  got  the  blind  beggar  ?  "  asked  a  voice 
very  anxiously.  "WTio  are  those  two?" 

"Two  strangers.  We  caught  them  as  they  were 
escaping.  No  one  else  has  come  this  way." 

"  Two  of  you  take  them  round  to  the  front.  The 
rest  stay  here,  and,  if  you  see  the  blind  man,  shoot." 

The  two  captives  passively  obeyed  the  order  to 
march.  It  would  have  been  idle  to  resist,  since 
every  street  seemed  to  be  occupied  by  the  enemy. 
They  were  thrust  through  to  the  inner  court  and  there 
entrusted  to  the  guard  set  round  their  unfortunate 
fellow-guests,  most  of  whom  were  protesting  volubly, 


118        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

although  quite  vainly,  against  the  treatment  be' 
stowed  on  them. 

A  systematic  search  was  being  made  throughout 
the  building.  No  single  nook  or  cranny  was  left 
unexplored.  Even  the  well  was  plumbed  to  make 
quite  sure  that  no  one  might  be  lurking  in  it.  The 
portly  proprietress  wrung  her  hands  as  she  heard 
the  crash  of  breaking  glass,  the  splintering  of  wood- 
work, and  the  crone  who  had  first  encountered  the 
intruders  kept  up  a  ceaseless  comment  on  their 
conduct  and  its  consequences. 

"  The  poor  blind  beggar  will  have  a  pretty  bill  to 
pay,"  she  cried  in  her  cracked  voice,  "after  these 
sons  of  Satan  have  finished." 

"Be  silent,  hag!"  a  soldier  shouted,  bringing  the 
barrel  of  his  carbine  across  her  shoulders.  She 
shrank  back,  and  subsided  into  senile  mutterings. 

"Here's  our  good  friend  Gonzalez,"  Allardyce 
observed  in  a  low  tone,  as  that  worthy  came  into 
the  courtyard. 

"He's  slipped  the  net,"  said  he  sourly  to  an  ap- 
proaching officer,  who  nodded  sulky  confirmation. 

"We'll  close  the  inn  and  leave  some  men  about. 
If  he  comes  back,  they'll  nab  him.  Meanwhile 
we'll  march  these  cattle  to  the  carcel  and  keep  them 
there  until  we  catch  him." 

He  had  raised  his  voice,  so  that  all  could  hear  his 
last  remark,  and  it  was  greeted  with  grievous  out- 
cry. He  was  deaf  to  all  appeals  for  pity.  The 
half-clad  inmates  of  the  Golden  Eagle  were  hustled 


WHAT  THE   BLIND   BEGGAR  SAW  119 

out  into  the  street.  The  soldiery  was  recalled  from 
its  congenial  task  of  mischievous  destruction.  Due 
disposition  was  made  for  ambushing  their  quarry 
in  case  he  should  return,  and  then  the  troop  ambled 
off  with  the  innocent  sufferers  crowding  along  on 
foot  in  its  centre. 

With  them  Gonzalez  did  not  for  the  moment  con- 
cern himself  further.  There  would  be  time  enough 
to  have  them  establish  their  identity  within  the 
prison  walls. 

He  counted  them  in  bulk  and  cursed  the  whining 
crone  for  her  slow  progress  as  she  hobbled  past  him. 

"  Step  out,  beldame ! "  he  ordered  brutally.  "  Move 
those  old  bones  of  thine,  or  I  shall  have  a  lance- 
point  prick  thee  forward." 

"Pity!  Have  pity — por  el  amor  de  dios!"  she 
groaned,  but  managed  to  mend  her  pace. 

The  prison  of  La  Boca  was  located  at  the  land- 
ward end  of  the  town  and  stood  alone  on  a  square 
ill-kept  ground  which,  during  the  day,  served  as 
stance  for  the  country-carts  that  brought  garden- 
stuff  to  the  market.  By  night  it  was  practically 
deserted  save  for  some  such  belated  vehicle. 

Escort  and  prisoners  drew  up  before  the  frowning 
gates.  There  was  some  delay  while  the  officials 
were  being  called  from  their  beds,  the  guard  within 
being  obviously  suspicious  of  the  presence  of  an 
armed  force  there  at  such  an  hour. 

The  troopers  had  dismounted  and  were  making 
up  for  the  enforced  silence  of  the  preceding  hour, 


120        THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

while  Gonzalez  and  their  officer  parleyed  from 
horseback  with  those  on  the  parapet  above  them. 

The  leading  files  had  drawn  to  one  side,  leaving 
free  passage  gateward  for  the  prisoners.  No  one 
interfered  when  the  old  kitchen-woman  went  limping 
that  way,  for  no  one  noticed  her. 

The  two  men  sitting  in  their  saddles,  talking, 
with  uplifted  chins,  to  the  almost  invisible  occupants 
of  the  loopholes  overhead  heard  nothing  but  the 
sound  of  their  own  voices. 

The  old  dame  stopped  between  the  haunches  of 
their  horses,  drew  a  deep  breath,  and,  springing 
with  an  energy  astonishing  in  one  of  her  years, 
grasped  at  their  collars,  pulled  them  to  the  earth, 
half-choking  them.  Their  heads  met  with  a  crash 
which  stunned  them  and  they  fell  with  one  wild  cry. 

The  frightened  horses  started  apart,  but  the  crone 
held  fast  by  the  cantle  of  one  saddle  and  Gonzalez 
had  not  let  go  his  reins. 

She  set  foot  on  his  chest  and  his  fingers  relaxed  as 
she  leaped.  The  flutter  of  her  skirts  further  alarmed 
the  animal  she  had  bestrode.  It  bolted  with  the 
bit  between  its  teeth,  cleaving  an  easy  passage 
through  the  encircling  throng. 

Upon  the  instant  there  was  panedmonium.  Gon- 
zalez, who  had  risen  to  his  feet,  was  screaming 
orders  and  imprecations  before  his  bewildered 
retainers  could  understand  what  had  happened. 
Two  or  three  men  mounted  and  made  off  after  the 
fugitive.  He  flew  at  those  who  remained,  striking 


WHAT  THE   BLIND   BEGGAR  SAW  121 

at  them  with  his  bare  hands,  kicking  and  cursing 
like  one  demented. 

The  women  prisoners  were  making  hysterical 
outcry,  savage  men's  voices  shouted  from  every 
quarter.  In  the  midst  of  the  uproar  the  prison- 
governor  appeared  on  a  turret,  while  from  another 
suddenly  shone  a  blazing  cluster  of  lights. 

Gonzalez  turned  on  him  with  bitter  words,  and, 
while  they  argued  and  recriminated,  those  below 
were  once  more  free  to  draw  breath. 

"It  wouldn't  have  been  wise  to  attempt  escape," 
Allardyce  whispered  to  Corbyn.  "We  would  have 
been  sure  to  get  separated  in  the  dark." 

"The  other  fellow  has  gotten  away  all  right,"  his 
friend  objected;  "but,  of  course,  he  had  his  plans 
laid.  I  wonder  who  he  was  ?  " 

"I  tell  you,  senor  Governor,"  Gonzalez  cried, 
"that  this  night's  work  will  cost  you  dearly.  His 
Excellency  will  not  be  grateful  to  the  man  who 
sleeps  so  soundly  that  our  prisoners  escape. 

"And  as  to  you,  senor  Teniente,"  he  turned  to 
the  astonished  officer,  who  had  at  length  recovered 
his  perpendicular  and  was  shambling  shamefacedly 
toward  him,  "your  swinish  incapacity  unfits  you 
for  a  uniform.  Get  to  your  post !  Don't  stand  there 
staring!  It  is  sufficient  for  one  day  that  you  have 
let  the  blind  man  go  again,  that  the  leader  of  the 
American  filibuster  is  now  at  large  in  San  Benito. 
Yes,  that  was  he.  Don't  stand  there  staring!  but 
march  your  remaining  prisoners  in." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

CHALLONER'S   CONSCIENCE. 

IN  the  small  hours  of  the  morning  Challoner,  the 
correspondent,  sat  down  at  his  desk  within  the  lonely 
dwelling  on  the  height  beyond  La  Boca  to  concoct 
his  daily  cable  for  the  Wireless.  He  had  trans- 
mitted to  New  York  before  setting  forth  for  the 
summit  of  the  Pass  full  details  as  to  the  tragedy  of 
the  Hilario,  and  there  was  little  of  importance  to 
chronicle  now.  He  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  looking 
reflectively  at  the  ceiling,  and  his  right  hand  fell 
purposefully  upon  the  butt  of  a  revolver  hidden 
among  a  heap  of  papers  where  it  would  be  most 
convenient. 

An  aged  woman  stepped  stealthily  across  the 
porch  outside  and  stood  for  a  moment  at  the  open 
door,  staring  in  upon  him.  Her  skirts  were  stained 
with  travel,  she  was  breathing  heavily.  In  one 
corner  of  her  mouth  was  a  cigarette. 

"Don't  move  or  you're  a  dead  man,"  Challoner 
said  suddenly  in  Spanish:  and  his  visitor  stood 
motionless  in  the  compelling  presence  of  the  levelled 
pistol. 

"You're  still  a  woman-hater,  eh,  Quiff?"  she 
122 


CHALLONER'S   CONSCIENCE        123 

asked  with  a  coy  simper,  and  the  correspondent 
shifted  his  glance  from  the  small  mirror  on  the 
cornice  opposite  the  doorway  to  her  wrinkled  face. 

"My  sainted  aunt!"  he  cried,  springing  to  his 
feet.  "  You're  a  holy  horror,  Meggs !  You  frightened 
me,  and  that's  a  fact.  Why  didn't  you  speak,  con- 
found you!  I  might  have  shot  you. 

"  Come  in,  and  close  the  door.  What  the  deuce 
are  you  doing  here  in  that  rig-out  ?  Sit  down  and 
tell  me  things.  Will  you  have  beer  or  whiskey?" 

He  shook  hands  very  warmly  with  his  venerable- 
looking  visitant,  and  drew  a  chair  forward. 

"You  should  have  been  an  actor,  Jerry.  Your 
make-up's  a  marvel.  Seems  to  me,  though,  that 
I've  seen  these  togs  of  yours  before." 

Meggs  laughed  delightedly. 

"I  shouldn't  wonder,"  said  he,  covering  his 
ankles  with  great  modesty  as  he  sat  down.  "  They're 
your  own,  Quiff.  I  stopped  in  here  and  made  free 
with  your  professional  wardroV  i  on  my  way  to  town. 
The  panel  was  partly  oper  I  left  a  note  for  you 
with  your  man.  Didn't  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  I've  just  come  in  from  the  Pass,"  Challoner  ex- 
plained, "and  didn't  wake  Miguel.  Did  he  give 
you  my  scrawl  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  made  a  bee-line  for  the  Golden  Eagle, 
but  they  had  no  word  there  of  my  two  friends.  I've 
had  the  time  of  my  life  to-night,  Quiff.  Some  local 
Sherlock  Holmes  has  got  wise  in  a  hurry,  and  I've 
been  dodging  the  entire  army  of  San  Benito  since 


124        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

then.  I'm  going  to  have  a  fat  part  in  whatever 
drama  we're  hired  for,  and " 

"Hold  hard,  hold  hard,"  ordered  Challoner. 
"Let's  have  the  anecdote  right  end  up.  Begin  at 
the  beginning.  All  I  know  up  to  now  is  what  you 
told  me  in  your  last  letter — that  you  were  coming 
down  here  with  twenty  other  devils  worse  than 
yourself  to  seek  trouble  in  San  Benito.  What's  the 
idea  of  it  all  ?  Remember,  I  haven't  seen  you  since 
we  chewed  biltong  together  with  Brother  Boer. 
That's  where  you  start  your  story.  What  have  you 
been  up  to  since  then?" 

"Life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness," 
said  Meggs  concisely.  "I've  been  about  the  world 
as  usual,  Quiff,  same  as  yourself  except  that  no  one 
pays  me  for  my  correspondence." 

He  hesitated  a  little,  and  spoke  more  soberly. 

"Six  months  ago  I  happened  to  be  in  London. 
Went  over  to  play  polo  again,  and — I  met  a  girl 
there." 

He  shot  a  surreptitious  glance  at  his  friend,  but 
Challoner  was  not  smiling.  There  was  that  in 
Meggs'  voice  now  which  it  was  not  good  to  hear. 

"She  turned  me  down,  and  that  left  me  in  little 
pieces.  I  fell  hard,  Quiff,  and  a  long  way.  I 
thought  I  had  fallen  straight  through  to  hell  till  I 
found  that  I  had  only  gotten  as  far  on  the  way  there 
as  New  Orleans.  When  I  came  to  my  senses  I 
found  that  I  had  acquired  a  friend,  by  the  name  of 
Barr — Barr  of  Mobile — and  that  he  had  talked 


CHALLONER'S   CONSCIENCE        125 

me  into  taking  command  of  an  expedition  he  wanted 
to  send  down  here,  a  most  mysterious  picnic  with 
twenty  men,  under  sealed  orders  not  to  be  opened 
until  we  should  land.  I  had  jumped  at  the  chance 
of  getting  killed  off  with  decency  and  despatch,  but 
afterwards  I  grew  somewhat  shy  of  involving  my 
twenty  comrades  in  any  such  enterprise.  Corbyn 
and  AUardyce  came  on  ahead  to  find  out  how  the 
land  lies,  but  the  rest  of  us  got  our  marching  orders 
earlier  than  I  expected  and  here  we  are  at  their 
teels.  We  swam  the  horses  ashore  at  the  back  of 
Punta  Gorda  last  evening,  and  landed  twenty  of  the 
trimmest  fighting-men  that  ever  pulled  trigger  to- 
gether. It  would  do  your  heart  good,  Quiff,  to  see 
'em  shift  to  Boot  and  saddle.  I  only  wish  you " 

"Let  up,  let  up,  now,  Jerry,"  the  correspondent 
Interposed.  "You  know  quite  well  that  I'm  here 
for  the  Wireless,  first  and  foremost  and  all  the  time. 
Don't  aggravate  me  with  any  of  your  sinful  proposi- 
tions. If  I  were  free  it  would  be  a  different  matter. 
But  my  hands  are  tied.  I  can  do  little  more  for 
you  than  I  have  done.  And  that's  nothing  at  all." 

He  spoke  morosely,  and  Meggs  understood  the 
temptation  that  comes  now  and  then  to  the  man  of 
action  engaged  in  peaceful  pursuits. 

"Don't  fret  about  it,"  said  the  latter  more  lightly. 
"  It's  my  conviction  that  Barr  of  Mobile  has  sold  us 
a  full-sized  pup.  I  don't  think  we'll  spend  any 
cartridges  in  San  Benito.  It  will  be  home,  sweet 
home  for  us  just  as  soon  as  we've  extracted  our 


126         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

two  friends  from  the  local  jail.  Did  I  tell  you  that 
Corbyn  and  Allardyce  have  been  locked  up  already  £** 

Challoner  held  up  a  hand. 

"We'll  stick  to  the  main  line,  meantime,  Jerry* 
How  did  the  orders  read  when  you  opened  them, 
and  where's  your  fighting  force  ?  " 

"The  boys  are  holding  the  fort  pending  further 
instructions  from  me,  in  the  tall  timber  behind 
the  Point.  My  orders  chiefly  consist  of  a  fat  com- 
mission appointing  me  colonel  commanding  the 
body-guard  of  some  sharp  called  Sariol,  Presidents 
de  la  Republica,  and  a  broad  hint  that  I'd  better 
make  quick  connection  with  that  same  gentleman 
wherever  he  may  be,  in  case  some  other  patriot 
tramples  on  me  before  I  get  there." 

"If  you  could  have  told  me  that  in  time  I  might 
have  saved  you  a  useless  journey,"  said  Challoner. 
"  Sariol  is  not  yet  President,  nor  do  I  think  he  ever 
will  be.  Barr  of  Mobile  may  have  meant  well  enough, 
but  he's  backing  the  wrong  horse.  I'll  tell  you  now 
how  things  stand  here  to-day. 

"Ybarra's  President.  There's  a  strong  revolu- 
tion on  foot  against  him  and  at  the  back  of  it,  but 
safely  hidden,  stands  Sariol.  They  planned  a  big 
coup  which  was  to  have  come  off  no  later  than  yester- 
day, and,  had  it  been  successful,  your  commission 
would  have  been  worth  a  little  more  than  it  is, 
which  also  is  nothing  at  all. 

"The  steamer  on  which  Corbyn  and  Allardyce 
came  from  New  York  brought  the  cream  of  these 


CHALLONER'S   CONSCIENCE        127 

conspirators,  with  arms  and  ammunition  enough 
to  supply  the  whole  sea-coast.  And  that  was  their 
scheme.  They  intended  to  capture  Ybarra  here  in 
La  Boca,  proclaim  your  friend  Sariol  president,  and 
carry  their  operations  on  from  this  side  of  the  moun- 
tains. La  Boca  is  the  key  to  the  country,  and  the 
thing  was  well  enough  thought  out,  but  the  Tiger 
was  too  astute  to  let  them  catch  him  napping. 
He  sank  the  steamer  with  all  on  board  as  soon  as 
she  entered  the  harbour.  Every  one  was  below  but 
your  two  lieutenants,  and  they  escaped  by  a  very 
thin  hair's-breadth,  I  can  assure  you. 

"  Ybarra  knows  you  are  here,  but  not  your  purpose, 
and  Sariol  will  be  the  first  to  disclaim  all  knowledge 
of  you  if  you  claim  acquaintance  with  him.  There 
are  spies  everywhere,  and  the  best  thing  you  can  do, 
Jerry,  is  to  quit.  You  hold  a  losing  hand,  and 
you're  up  against  a  bad  gang.  I've  seen  them  deal 
with  surrendered  prisoners  after  a  fight,  and — it 
wasn't  a  square  deal,  Jerry.  It  made  me  sick  to 
look  on." 

He  broke  off  abruptly,  and  Meggs  nodded. 

"They're  the  devil's  children  in  that  way,"  said 
he,  "and  I'll  keep  my  twenty  out  of  their  hands, 
after  I  get  back  Corbyn  and  Allardyce." 

"How  have  they  managed  to  get  themselves  into 
hot  water  already?"  Challoner  inquired  gravely. 

"I  got  them  into  it,"  Meggs  explained.  "It  was 
this  way.  When  I  got  your  tip  that  they  were  at 
the  Golden  Eagle  I  was  in  a  hurry  to  get  in  touch 


128         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

with  them.  I  slipped  into  a  suit  of  rags  I  found 
here,  stuck  a  fringe  of  beard  on  my  chin,  a  white 
wig  on  my  head  and  tripped  along  into  town  as  the 
old  blind  beggar.  But  I  drew  blank  in  Eighteenth 
of  June  Street." 

"That's  very  queer,"  remarked  Challoner,  "but 
perhaps  they  went  on  the  buzz  together  instead  of 
going  straight  there.  The  town  was  up  late  last 
night." 

"Well,  anyhow,  I  had  a  chat  with  the  fat  old 
frau  at  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  won  her  heart  by 
leaving  a  wad  of  bills  with  her  as  a  guarantee  of 
good  faith.  As  things  turned  out,  I'm  glad  that  I 
had  that  happy  thought — but  wait  a  bit.  From 
there  I  went  on  a  prowl  around  town,  in  hope  of  pick- 
ing them  up  if  they  were  still  doing  the  sights,  and 
nearly  got  picked  up  myself  by  the  police.  I  had 
a  deuce  of  a  time  dodging  them,  and  I'm  more  than 
half  inclined  to  think  that  they  knew  more  about  me 
even  then  than  I  gave  them  credit  for. ' ' 

"I  tell  you  there  are  spies  everywhere, "  Challoner 
repeated.  "The  fellow  at  the  head  of  the  Secret 
Service  is  far  too  clever  to  let  even  a  blind  beggar 
pass.  If  you  ever  run  across  him — his  name's 
Gonzalez — keep  both  eyes  very  wide  open.  But 
go  on." 

"They  chased  me  round  till  I  got  tired,  and  I 
made  a  bold  break  for  the  Golden  Eagle  again,  just 
in  time  to  see  our  two  night-hawks  get  out  of  a  cab 
at  the  gate.  And,  as  luck  would  have  it,  up  bobbed 


a  bold  vigilante  at  the  street  corner  as  I  was  on  the 
point  of  following  them.  I  set  off  down  the  street 
rather  than  have  him  think  that  I  had  anything  to 
do  with  the  Golden  Eagle,  he  after  me  like  a  little 
ferret  with  his  small-sword  and  revolver  all  ready  for 
argument.  It  cost  me  a  lot  of  time  and  trouble  to 
give  him  the  slip,  but  I  managed  it  in  the  end  and 
once  more  got  back  to  the  inn. 

"  The  fat  lady  had  put  my  friends  in  a  safe  place, 
and  they'd  made  it  safer  by  shutting  me  out  with  an 
iron  grating.  Every  one  was  in  bed  by  that  time,  and 
I  was  fumbling  away  at  the  bolts  by  myself,  when  I 
heard  the  cheering  sound  of  horsemen  in  bulk  ap- 
proaching. I  can  tell  you  I  reached  the  outer  gate 
on  a  record,  got  the  bars  up,  and  was  back  in  the 
kitchen  before  they  began  to  knock.  My  whiskers 
and  wig  went  into  the  fire,  I  slipped  this  confounded 
skirt  on  and  a  shawl  over  my  head,  caught  the  pa- 
trona  on  her  way  to  open  the  gate  and  did  that  for 
her,  my  own  way,  ten  minutes  later. 

"There  was  a  whole  troop  of  cavalry  there,  and 
what  they  wanted  was  me.  They  got  me,  but  they 
didn't  know  that.  They  got  every  soul  in  the  Golden 
Eagle,  including  Corbyn  and  Allardyce,  who  had 
made  a  bold  bid  to  escape  but  were  caught  by  the 
cordon  outside.  And  they  marched  us  all  off  to 
prison.  I  got  away  by  the  skin  of  my  teeth  at  the 
prison -gate,  and  I'm  going  back  presently  to  exca- 
vate the  other  two.  I  didn't  dare  to  disclose  my 
identity  to  them  lest  I  should  spoil  my  own  plan. 
9 


130       THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

And  if  we  had  all  three  been  laid  on  the  shelf  it 
would  have  been  a  black  business  for  them  and  for 
me  and  for  the  twenty  men  in  the  woods." 

"You  were  wise,"  said  Challoner  briefly.  "And 
even  now  you've  got  a  very  hard  row  to  hoe,  Jerry. 

I  don't  see  how But,  hold  on.  I  may  be  able  to 

give  you  some  sound  advice,  after  all.  I  really 
shouldn't  be  showing  you  these  little  tricks  of  the 
trade,  but  I'll  have  to  compound  with  my  conscience 
this  time.  Listen!" 

A  faint  click-click  came  from  the  rug  at  his  feet. 
He  stooped  and  lifted  that.  The  dot  and  dash  of  a 
field-telegraph  receiver  became  more  distinctly 
audible. 

It  rattled  off  a  message  in  the  old  Morse  code, 
which  they  both  read  mechanically  and  by  ear. 
Gonzalez  was  reporting  to  the  President  at  Alta 
Ciuz  the  capture  and  subsequent  escape  of  the  chief 
of  that  band  of  filibusters  which  had  lately  landed 
in  San  Benito,  the  lodgement  in  La  Boca  prison  of 
the  American,  Corbyn,  and  his  confederate:  with 
comments  and  suggestions.  He  was  of  opinion 
that  the  filibusters  had  some  connection  with  Cor- 
byn, and  ventured  to  advise  their  extermination 
forthwith. 

"A  clever  devil  that!"  said  Challoner  as  the  in- 
strument ceased  to  speak.  "Ybarra  would  be  ill 
off  without  him." 

"He'll  be  ill  off,  then,  if  I  ever  run  across  Gon- 
zalez," Meggs  answered  angrily.  "I'll  wring  his 


CHALLONER'S    CONSCIENCE        131 

neck  for  him,  in  return  for  his  cleverness.  I'd  like 
to  hear  what  orders  come  back  from  Alta  Cruz." 

"There's  nothing  passes  that  we  can't  hear  if 
we  want  to,"  the  correspondent  assured  him.  "  The 
wire  runs  right  overhead.  That's  one  reason  why 
I  took  this  shack. 

"You'd  better  get  into  some  other  clothes  now, 
Jerry.  You're  very  fetching  in  these  togs,  but " 

Meggs  got  up,  grinning. 

"It's  a  good  thing  I'm  old  and  ugly,"  he  replied 
darkly,  "or  I  might  not  have  found  my  disguise  so 
effective.  But  you  needn't  rub  it  in  like  that,  Quiff. 
If  I  had  been  an  Adonis,  like  Corbyn  or  AUardyce, 
I'd  have  been ' ' 

"  You'll  look  a  good  deal  handsomer  after  you've 
washed  your  face,"  Challoner  interrupted.  "Off 
you  go.  I've  got  to  telephone  the  cable  office  in 
La  Boca  with  my  bulletin.  Then  we'll  take  turn 
about  sitting  over  the  instrument  here  and  sleeping. 
I  haven't  been  to  bed  for  two  days,  and  there's 
daylight  already." 

"I'll  stay  with  you  till  it's  dark  again  before  I 
move  on,"  said  Meggs.  "You  needn't  be  afraid  to 
keep  me.  The  uniform  I  left  here  will  serve  to  stave 
off  any  troublesome  inquirers." 

"  Will  your  men  wait  quietly  ?  "  asked  Challoner. 

"Nothing  short  of  a  ton  of  dynamite  will  move 
them  before  I  get  back  to  camp.  They're  the 
straight  brand,  Quiff.  I'd  trust  'em  from  here  to 
Hades." 


132        THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

The  storm  which  had  been  brewing  all  night  broke 
at  noon,  and  saved  the  little  dwelling  on  the  cliff  - 
face  not  a  few  inconvenient  visitors.  Dusk  had  al- 
ready fallen  ere  a  police  patrol  came  clambering  up 
the  path,  which  was  like  a  water-fall,  and  found  the 
correspondent  in  a  suit  of  pink  pajamas,  amicably 
chewing  coca-leaves  in  company  with  a  mud-be- 
splaltered  captain  of  cavalry.  The  policemen  did 
not  deem  it  prudent  to  intrude  on  that  dignitary,  and 
went  off  gratefully  after  partaking  of  rum  supplied 
them,  at  his  master's  order,  by  Miguel:  who  was 
both  willing  and  able  to  assure  them  positively  that 
he  had  seen  no  lurking  fugitive  in  the  vicinity  that 
day,  the  day  before,  or  any  other  day.  And,  an 
hour  later,  Meggs  left  on  horseback,  unseen. 

He  took  to  the  shore,  cantering  over  wet  sand 
below  high-water  mark  till  he  reached  Punta  Gorda, 
where  he  turned  inland  to  where  his  sodden  camp 
lay  on  the  summit  of  a  low  rise  in  the  forest 
there. 

"Get  saddled  up,  men,"  he  said  quietly,  and  sat 
in  his  saddle  waiting  while  the  drenched  troopers 
gladly  obeyed. 

The  rain  had  ceased,  the  sky  was  clear  again,  and 
all  the  stars  were  shining  as  they  rode  forth  after 
him,  but  underfoot  a  long  canal  of  liquid  mud  had 
taken  the  place  of  the  dusty  highroad  to  La  Boca, 
it  made  soft  going  for  the  horses.  They  travelled 
<easily  and  drew  up  at  the  prison-gate  early  in  the 
evening.  Their  leader  answered  the  sentries'  chal- 


CHALLONER'S   CONSCIENCE        133 

lenge,  and  in  due  course  the  governor  appeared  on 
the  parapet. 

"You're  before  your  time,  senor  capitan"  he 
grumbled  sourly.  "The  telegram  said  ten 
o'clock.'* 

"  It  will  be  well  to  start  before,"  the  officer  replied 
in  a  gruff  growl,  "  if  we  are  to  reach  Alta  Cruz  before 
dawn.  The  roads  are  barely  passable  after  the 
rain." 

"I'll  bring  the  prisoners  out,  then,"  the  guardian 
of  the  gaol  announced.  "Have  your  men  ready; 
those  gringos  seem  to  be  more  slippery  than  eels!" 

A  wicket  in  the  outer  gate  swung  back  and  four 
armed  men  brought  forth  two  others  unarmed,  who 
looked  about  them  hopelessly. 

The  cloaked  troopers  of  the  escort  had  their 
carbines  drawn,  there  were  two  horses  standing 
with  empty  saddles  in  the  forefront. 

Corbyn  was  lifted  into  one  before  he  could  pro- 
test, and  Allardyce,  accepting  the  situation  philo- 
sophically, swung  himself  into  the  other.  The 
escort  closed  up  round  them,  without  a  word. 

"Sign  this  receipt,  please,"  said  the  governor  in 
the  gateway.  "Don't  be  in  such  a  hurry,  senor 
capitan.  I  have  the  rules  and  regulations  to  com- 
ply   Hey !  Halt.  Come  back.  Por  dios,  hombre, 

wait  a " 

His  voice  rose  to  a  shriek,  although  he  might  have 
saved  his  breath  for  all  the  attention  that  was  paid 
him  by  the  rapidly  vanishing  body  of  horsemen. 


134         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

He  was  afraid  to  fire  on  a  uniformed  force.  There 
seemed  to  be  nothing  practical  that  he  could  do. 

He  flew  into  an  apoplectic  passion,  and,  lacking 
other  object,  vented  it  on  his  astonished  subordinates, 
accusing  them  of  connivance  in  an  infernal  plot  to 
work  his  ruin.  And  when,  at  ten  o'clock,  a  second 
party  appeared  to  demand  the  custody  of  the  same 
prisoners,  he  sent  his  deputy  out  to  display  a  duly 
forged  receipt  for  them,  refusing  stubbornly  to  rise 
from  his  sudden  sick-bed  or  to  see  any  one  whom- 
soever. 

The  pace  at  which  the  troop  was  travelling,  the 
showers  of  mud  the  horses  threw  up  prevented  any 
conversation  between  the  prisoners.  Meggs,  at  its 
head,  kept  onward  at  a  canter,  and  did  not  deem  it 
wise  to  hold  speech  with  his  friends  until  they  should 
be  free  from  fear  of  observation  by  those  spies 
of  whom  Challoner  had  warned  him.  He  held  a 
straight  course  for  his  camping-ground,  and,  not 
till  they  had  reached  that  and  heard  his  voice  raised 
in  crisp  command,  did  Allardyce  and  Corbyn  realise 
what  had  befallen  them. 

It  was  a  joyful  trio  that  sat  down,  ten  minutes 
later,  beside  a  blazing  fire  in  a  safe  cranny  of  the 
rocks  to  dry  their  mud-soaked  clothing  and  exchange 
histories.  The  camp  cook  soon  had  hot  food  ready 
for  them  and  the  others.  The  horses  were  munching 
their  oats  contentedly.  Pickets  had  been  posted 
on  arrival.  Warmth  and  security  were  doubly 
grateful  there  in  the  damp  and  darkness,  after  the 


CHALLONER'S   CONSCIENCE        135 

hardships  they  had  undergone.  And,  after  their 
separate  adventures  had  all  been  recounted,  the 
failure  of  Barr's  bold  project  and  their  consequent 
plight  fully  explained  and  discussed,  they  fell  silent 
for  a  brief  space,  smoking  contentedly,  listening  to 
the  men's  low  laughter,  the  sough  of  the  wind  through 
the  trees,  looking  up  at  the  twinkling  stars. 

Then  Corbyn  laid  his  pipe  aside,  and  told  Meggs 
of  Beatriz  Ybarra :  in  very  few  words,  but  none  the 
less  fully.  He  spoke  between  set  teeth  of  the  fault 
which  he  felt  to  be  his,  and  because  of  which  she 
was  now  at  the  mercy  of  one  who  knew  none.  Meggs 
sat  listening  attentively,  his  face  inscrutable. 

"  And  so,  you  see,  I  can't  go  back  home  with  you, 
Jerry,"  Corbyn  concluded.  "  My  place  is  here.  I 
may  be  too  late,  but,  if  I  am,  I'll  find  some  means 
to  settle  scores  with  that — with  Ybarra.  I  must 
make  for  Alta  Cruz  in  the  morning." 

Neither  of  the  others  had  any  comment  to  make. 
Allardyce  had  already  declared  to  Corbyn  his  defi- 
nite and  irrevocable  intention  of  sharing  with  him 
whatever  further  trouble  might  be  forthcoming,  and 
was  not  addicted  to  empty  reiteration.  He  went  on 
smoking,  a  faint  frown  showing  upon  his  forehead 
in  the  red  firelight.  Meggs  seemed  to  have  no 
remark  to  make.  He  got  up  presently,  knocked 
his  pipe  out  on  his  boot-heel,  and  sauntered  off 
into  the  surrounding  darkness. 


CHAPTER  IX 

ALLARDYCE   ACTS   VERY   CLUMSILY 

GERALD  MEGGS  stood  alone  in  the  darkness 
under  the  roof-like  branches  of  the  thick  forest. 
His  ears  were  deaf  to  its  night  noises  and  he  could 
see  nothing.  His  back  was  towards  the  bivouac  he 
had  come  from. 

His  hands  were  clenched,  his  head  bent,  his  fea- 
tures working,  Leaning  against  an  invisible  tree- 
trunk  he  let  his  forehead  fall  in  the  crook  of  his 
elbow  and  gave  vent  to  a  stifled  groan.  And  thus  he 
stayed  for  a  time,  motionless,  making  no  further 
sound,  though  his  brow  was  wet  with  the  stress  he 
was  suffering,  fighting  the  fiercest  temptation  he 
would  ever  face.  The  devil  behind  his  shoulder 
was  dinning  into  his  ears  the  devilish  axiom  that 
"All's  fair  in  love  and  war,"  and  better  men  than 
Gerald  Meggs  have  succumbed  to  such  teaching. 

When  he  returned  to  the  camp-fire  the  other  two 
were  still  stitting  there,  silent,  staring  into  the  embers. 
Allardyce  looked  up  at  him,  but  dropped  his  eyes 
instantly.  Meggs  sat  down  in  the  shadow,  and 
spoke  as  steadily  as  he  could. 

"  Phil,"  he  said,  "  I  didn't  know  that  you  had  any 
136 


ALLARDYCE  ACTS  VERY  CLUMSILY  137 

understanding  with  Beatriz  Ybarra.  I  didn't  know 
she  belonged  to  this  part  of  the  world.  I  thought 
she  was  an  American.  She  told  me  her  home  was 
in  Washington." 

Corbyn  turned  towards  him  in  quick  surprise,  and 
their  glances  crossed  for  a  moment,  but  Meggs  went 
on  before  the  other  could  utter  a  word. 

"It  was  she  whom  I  asked  to  marry  me,  Phil. 
I — I  didn't  know,  you  see,  and  it  cut  deep  at  first 
to  find  out  that  you're  the  other  man.  But  I  want 
to  shake  hands  with  you  now,  and — and  wish  you 
luck.  I — I  want  to  stand  in  with  you,  if  you'll  let 
me." 

His  voice  shook  ever  so  slightly  as  he  made  renun- 
ciation for  his  friend's  sake  of  his  dearest  dream,  of 
the  fighting  chance  there  was  left  to  win  even  at 
the  eleventh  hour  the  woman  who  was  all  the  world 
held  for  him.  He  had  the  men  and  the  money  to 
succour  her  and  so  forward  his  suit  at  a  moment 
when  it  could  not  but  be  heard  with  much  in  his 
favour,  a  moment  when  his  rival  was  almost  out  of 
the  running.  In  his  simple  code  of  honour  he 
had  found  no  room  for  the  theory  that  all's  fair  in 
either  love  or  war.  Gerald  Meggs  was  a  modern 
young  man  and  no  great  philosopher,  but  what  he 
did  he  would  do  with  clean  hands,  whether  in  war 
or  love. 

Corbyn  had  risen  in  his  astonishment.  He  could 
surmise  how  much  it  must  have  cost  Meggs  to  come 
to  such  a  conclusion,  and  was  at  first  bewildered  by 


138        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

his  magnanimity.  All  he  could  ask  for  himself  was 
just  that  same  fighting  chance  his  friend  was  willing 
to  sacrifice.  He  did  not  know  that,  had  he  been  in 
Meggs'  place,  he  could  have  brought  himself  to 
give  it  up,  and,  when  he  realised  the  extent  of  the 
other's  generosity,  he  could  scarce  find  words  with 
which  to  express  his  feelings. 

"Jerry,"  he  said,  wringing  the  hand  held  out  to 
him,  "you're  a  better  man  than  I  am,  but — you 
understand.  It's  for  her  sake  that  I  must  do  the 
best  I  can,  and — I  know  you'll  bear  me  no  grudge." 

They  separated,  somewhat  shamefacedly  after 
the  Anglo-Saxon  manner  when  any  emotion  shows 
on  the  surface,  and  Allardyce  also  rose.  He  clapped 
Meggs  over  the  shoulder. 

"You're  a  good  little  chap,  Jerry,"  he  remarked. 
"You  and  I  will  have  just  as  much  fun  and  fewer 
responsibilities  the  way  you've  fixed  it." 

"You've  never  seen  her,  Allardyce,"  poor  Meggs 
returned  impulsively,  and  kicked  a  flaming  log  aside 
so  that  the  fire  died  down.  Then  he  heaved  a  deep 
sigh,  unashamed,  filled  his  pipe,  and  sat  down  again. 

"Corbyn,"  he  said  more  calmly,  "I'm  at  your 
orders.  All  I  ask  is  that  you'll  take  over  command 
of  the  men.  You  know  the  country,  and — I'll  ex- 
plain to  them." 

Corbyn  sighed,  too. 

"  I  can't  afford  to  employ  men,  Jerry,"  he  answered 
vexedly.  "I  wish  I  could,  but — if  wishes  were 
horses  beggars  would  ride." 


ALLARDYCE  ACTS  VERY  CLUMSILY  139 

"  I  didn't  think  you  would  have  said  that  to  me," 
said  Meggs  in  a  hurt  tone.  "  Am  I  not  to  be  allowed 
to  help,  not  only  you,  but  her  ?  Surely  you're  not 
going  to  let  any  silly  scruples  of  that  sort  stand  be- 
tween her  and  safety.  If  you  are,  I  tell  you  flatly 
that  I'll  go  on  myself  till  I  see  her  out  of  this  cursed 
country.  I've  far  more  money  than  I  know  what  to 
do  with,  and — that's  what's  the  matter  with  me. 
Make  up  your  mind  in  a  hurry.  We've  got  to  march 
in  ten  minutes  if  we  want  to  cross  the  Pass  to- 
night." 

"You  must  let  Jerry  chip  in,  old  chap,"  Allardyce 
agreed,  and  Meggs  nodded  gratefully  to  him. 
"  What  we  want  is  to  get  Miss  Ybarra  clear  of  that 
savage's  clutch.  You  can't  afford  any  personal 
scruples  at  present.  Call  up  the  men,  Jerry,  and 
let's  find  out  how  many  we  can  count  on." 

Corbyn  was  still  further  overwhelmed  by  this 
proof  of  Meggs'  single-heartedness,  but  could  not 
gainsay  the  common  sense  of  Allardyce's  contention. 
With  two  such  friends  at  his  back  and  a  fighting 
force  behind  them  much  might  be  done  that  would 
be,  humanly  speaking,  impossible  otherwise.  He 
had  no  option  but  to  accept  all  they  offered,  in  the 
hope  that  he  might  one  day  be  able  to  pay  them  in 
part  the  debt  he  must  thus  incur  for  the  sake  of 
Beatriz. 

"You  two  must  get  into  fancy-dress  first,"  said 
Meggs,  and  from  some  crevice  produced  a  parcel 
containing  two  uniforms. 


140         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"  Hope  they'll  fit.  I  had  them  made  in  Broadway 
along  with  the  others.  They're  the  correct  thing. 
Barr  gave  me  full  directions,  so  that  we  might  cut 
a  dash  here  without  delay,  and  now  they'll  help  us 
along  famously."  His  spirits  were  rising  at  the 
prospect  of  action.  He  helped  them  deftly  with 
belt  and  buckle,  till  both  stood  fully  dressed  as 
officers  of  San  Benitan  cavalry,  straight  and  smart  in 
as  yet  unstained  blue  and  gold.  Two  of  the  four 
stars  On  his  own  shoulder-straps  he  transferred  to 
Corbyn's. 

"  Allardyce  and  I  take  lieutenant's  rank,"  said  he, 
"and  you're  in  command  now,  Phil.  I'll  serve  you 
faithfully." 

Corbyn  could  only  wring  his  hand  again.  His 
own  heart  was  too  full  of  gratitude  to  let  him  speak 
unmoved.  And  then  Meggs  called  the  men  together. 

He  told  them  briefly  how  and  why  the  expedition 
for  which  they  had  enlisted  had  turned  out  a  fiasco, 
and  that  they  were  therefore  free  to  lay  down  their 
arms  and  leave  the  country  with  a  month's  pay  and 
the  price  of  the  homeward  passage.  Then  he  out- 
lined the  undertaking  before  Corbyn,  explaining 
its  risks  clearly,  warning  them  as  to  the  consequences 
failure  would  most  assuredly  entail  on  the  survirors. 
They  listened  gravely. 

He  stepped  back  beside  Allardyce,  a  pace  to  rear 
of  Corbyn. 

"That's  all  I  have  to  say,  boys,"  he  concluded, 
"and — this  is  my  captain.  I'm  going  with  him." 


Corbyn  returned  their  glances  steadily.  It  was- 
not  the  first  time  that  he  had  called  for  volunteers  to 
share  a  desperate  risk. 

"I'm  Philip  Corbyn,"  he  said  shortly.  "You've 
heard  what  sort  of  work  I  have  ahead  of  me.  If 
any  of  you  care  to  join  me,  talk  the  thing  over  for 
five  minutes  and  then  let  me  know." 

He  was  about  to  turn  back  to  the  fire  that  they 
might  have  full  liberty  of  speech  between  themselves, 
when  a  voice  cried  from  among  them,  "Put  Mike 
McGuire's  name  down,  Captain  Corbyn,  sor." 

He  halted,  and  went  forward  holding  out  his 
hand. 

"Mike,"  he  said,  "I'm  more  than  glad  to  meet 
you  here.  But  this  may  turn  out  a  harder  pull  than 
San  Juan  Ridge,  and  it  was  none  so  easy.  You 
know  how  pleased  I'll  be  to  have  you  with  me, 
but " 

"I'm  goin',  sor,"  said  Mike  stubbornly.  "I 
didn't  come  down  here  for  my  health,  nor  none  of 
the  others  didn't,  neither.  It's  no  use,  Captain 
Corbyn,  sor.  You  can't  frighten  us  off  our  fun. 
We're  all  goin',  each  mother's  son  of  us,  and  where 
you  lead  we'll  follow.  Isn't  that  right,  boys  ?  " 

"That's  right,  Mike,"  chorused  a  dozen  voices, 
and  Allardyce  smiled  contentedly.  He  had  been  half 
afraid  that  Meggs  and  Corbyn  were  laying  too  much 
stress  on  the  weak  points  of  their  project. 

"Every  man  has  full  liberty  to  act  as  he  thinks 
best,"  Corbyn  finished.  "There's  a  New  York 


142        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

steamer  sails  from  La  Boca  to-morrow.  I  start 
across  the  mountains  in  ten  minutes  from  now,  and 
there  will  be  no  turning  back  from  beyond  the  Pass. 
Those  who  mean  to  go  with  me  will  saddle  up  in  a 
hurry.  Three  men  must  take  word  out  to  the  pickets 
and  give  them  the  same  chance." 

The  gathering  broke  up  speedily  and  he  turned 
to  his  friends  with  a  glad  face. 

"That's  a  good  crowd  you've  recruited,  Jerry," 
he  said ,  and  Meggs  nodded  cordial  assent.  "  Mike 
McGuire's  a  host  in  himself.  He  was  with  me  in 
Cuba." 

Meggs  nodded  again.  "I  remember  him,"  he 
responded.  "He  speaks  some  Spanish,  too.  It 
wouldn't  be  bad  to  make  him  troop  sergeant." 

"  We  will,"  agreed  Corbyn,  who  had  the  same  idea 
in  his  mind.  "  And  now  about  our  plan  of  campaign. 
It's  understood  that  our  sole  object  is  to  get  Miss 
Ybarra  safely  beyond  San  Benito.  Don't  forget 
that  her  life  isn't  safe  while  she  is  within  her  cousin's 
reach.  He's  desperately  hard  up,  and  she's  very 
wealthy.  That's  wherein  the  chief  risk  to  her  lies. 

"If  any  of  us  fall  out  the  others  must  go  on. 
One  of  the  three  should  surely  get  through,  and 
in  that  respect  we  must  trust  to  Providence.  If 
you  two  will  pose  as  prisoners  till  we're  well  over 
the  mountains,  I  think  we  can  manage  to  pass  the 
garrison  at  the  summit,  and  then  we'll  be  fairly 
started.  Have  you  any  wire-cutters  in  your  equip- 
ment, Jerry?" 


ALLARDYCE  ACTS  VERY  CLUMSILY  143 

"Every  man  has  a  pair  on  his  saddle." 

"Good.     Let's  get  mounted." 

Corbyn's  voice  had  a  very  different  ring  in  it  now. 
He  was  once  more  a  soldier  holding  responsible 
rank,  cool,  alert,  and  ready. 

They  found  their  horses  awaiting  them,  and  the 
men  drawn  up  in  line.  Corbyn  counted  off  seventeen 
and  there  were  three  on  picket.  Not  one  of  them 
would  avail  himself  of  the  New  York  steamer.  He 
called  McGuire  out  and  told  him  of  his  promotion, 
which  seemed  to  meet  with  his  comrades'  entire 
approval,  and,  in  a  few  seconds  more,  the  force 
moved  off  complete. 

A  canter  took  them  to  the  mountain-road,  where 
they  turned  upwards  at  a  walk,  Corbyn  leading  the 
way,  Meggs  and  Allardyce  in  the  midst  of  the  men* 
hatless,  in  muddy  cloaks.  It  was  a  long  climb  to 
the  summit,  but  the  horses  were  fresh  and  had  a 
breathing-spell  each  time  they  stopped  to  cut  the 
telegraph  wire,  which  was  done  in  several  places. 
In  time  they  reached  the  first  of  the  enemy's  out- 
posts, on  the  seaward  side  of  the  Pass.  A  harsh 
cry  rang  out  from  the  rocks  above,  and  Corbyn 
halted  his  force  for  an  anxious  moment. 

"Friends,"  he  cried  back,  and  the  countersign 
was  demanded.  Meggs  had  obtained  that  from 
Challoner,  and  had  already  made  use  of  it  in  ap- 
proaching the  prison.  Corbyn  gave  it  without 
hesitation,  and,  "Pass,  friends,"  said  the  sentry, 
his  duty  done. 


144         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

Word  of  their  coming  had  reached  the  camp  ere 
they  did,  and  they  were  halted  at  the  main-guard 
by  the  subaltern  in  charge,  a  sulky  boy  who  had 
but  lately  realised  that  it  takes  more  than  brass 
buttons  to  make  a  soldier. 

"Escort  with  prisoners  for  Alta  Cruz;  also  des- 
patches for  His  Excellency,"  Corbyn  told  him  in 
lisping  Spanish. 

"You're  one  of  Von  Rudolf's  imported  swash- 
bucklers, I  suppose,"  said  the  youth  with  quite 
unconscious  insolence  and  scanning  closely  the 
cloaked  figure  looking  down  upon  him. 

"Clear  the  road  and  let  me  pass,"  the  man  on 
horseback  answered  briefly.  "On  my  way  back 
I'll  perhaps  find  time  to  teach  you  how  to  address 
your  superiors. 

"Stand  to  one  side  there,  men;  and  you,  sir," — 
turning  again  to  the  bewildered  scion  of  San  Benito — 
"  see  that  you  keep  a  sharp  lookout  towards  the 
town.  If  any  troop  of  horse  attempts  to  reach 
you  from  that  side  you  will  do  well  to  hold  them. 
Be  much  more  courteous  when  I  come  again. 

"  I  give  you  the  good-night.  Detachment !  Walk 
—march.  Trot." 

He  rode  on,  smiling  grimly  to  himself,  and  the 
dark  chain  of  riflemen  gave  way  before  him,  while 
their  responsible  superior  stood  gaping  after  the 
departing  company  in  a  most  grievous  state  of  in- 
decision. It  was  too  late,  however,  to  interfere. 
He  cursed  his  own  subordinates  with  great  fervour 


ALLARDYCE  ACTS  VERY  CLUMSILY  145 

and  fluency  for  the  especial  reason  that  they  had  not 
stood  still  to  be  ridden  over,  and  tjien  retired  to  his 
tent,  muttering. 

Half  way  down  hill  Corbyn  stopped  again  and 
two  of  his  men  swarmed  nimbly  up  the  tall  poles 
planted  along  their  route.  A  shrill,  metallic  ping-g-g 
and  a  great  length  of  wire  went  whistling  into  space. 
Again,  at  the  foot,  he  left  a  gap  in  the  communication 
between  La  Boca  and  the  capital,  and  then  they 
set  out  across  the  plain  beyond  which  lay  Alta  Cruz. 

"That  isolates  the  Summit  completely,"  he  told 
Meggs,  who  was  once  more  riding  at  his  right  hand. 
"They  aren't  likely  to  have  a  heliograph  handy, 
and  it's  a  long  ride  either  way." 

Each  time  they  stopped  he  found  work  for  the 
wire-cutters,  and,  when  day  broke,  they  all  drew  off 
the  road  to  rest  and  feed  the  horses  within  a  clump 
of  trees  upon  a  knoll  commanding  all  approaches. 

Corbyn  and  Allardyce  dismounted  stiffly,  but,, 
although  the  former  was  still  enduring  pain  and 
inconvenience  from  his  two  days'  old  wound,  neither 
would  sleep,  as  Meggs  suggested  after  they  had 
breakfasted  on  cold  meat  and  biscuits,  washed  down 
with  a  somewhat  scanty  supply  of  brackish  water. 
They  were  too  busy  taking  stock  of  their  troopers, 
and  found  all  twenty  thoroughly  to  their  liking. 
Minus  their  military  cloaks,  in  the  smart  uniform 
Von  Rudolf  had  designed  for  his  crack  cavalry,  they 
were  as  dashing  in  action  and  appearance  as  any 
connoisseur  could  wish.  Corbyn  had  found  a  college; 
10 


146        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

friend  in  one,  and  while  he  laughed  and  chatted  with 
him  Allardyce  and  Meggs  got  out  their  maps  to 
study  the  lie  of  the  country. 

"Well,  what's  the  programme  now?"  demanded 
Meggs  as  he  came  back  to  where  they  lay  stretched 
on  the  grass  with  the  sheets  spread  before  them. 
"We're  close  to  Alta  Cruz,  now." 

"  Alta  Cruz  is  only  a  league  ahead,"  Corbyn  an- 
swered. "  We'll  lie  here  until  noon — the  city's  sound 
asleep  then — and  trust  to  luck  to  find  out  whether 
Ybarra's  at  the  palace.  If  he's  gone  on  to  the  Golden 
Horseshoe,  as  I  half  fear  he  may,  we  follow.  We 
must  strike  quickly." 

"How  would  it  do  if  I  rode  in  alone  and  found 
out  what's  doing?"  asked  Allardyce  eagerly,  and 
his  commander  cogitated. 

"It  would  do  well  enough — if  you  got  back," 
replied  that  strategist,  "  but  I'm  afraid  the  risk  is 
too  great.  None  of  the  others  know  colloquial 
Spanish,  although  several  can  speak  it  well  enough 
to  get  about,  and — I  can't  spare  you.  We  may 
surmise  that  Ybarra  has  taken  all  precautions  against 
solitary  strangers:  he's  heard  already  that  I'm  on 
his  track,  but  I  don't  think  he  knows  I've  got  an 
army  with  me."  He  smiled  with  kindly  eyes  on 
the  handful  of  adventurers  about  him.  "No,  on 
the  whole,"  he  said,  "  I  think  you'd  better  not." 

Once  again  before  mid-day  the  horses  were 
watered  and  fed  and  rubbed  down,  and  the  men  had 
a  leisurely  lunch.  Thereafter  they  went  on  gladly, 


ALLARDYCE  ACTS  VERY  CLUMSILY    147 

for  they  anticipated  trouble.  Corbyn  had  told 
them  lhat,  if  President  Ybarra  were  in  Alta  Cruz, 
there  might  presently  be  excitement  to  burn. 

Allardyce,  feeling  more  like  himself  in  his  new 
uniform,  which,  greatly  to  his  satisfaction,  fitted  him 
almost  without  a  crease,  was  sent  on  as  advance-guard 
with  two  men  to  add  dignity  to  his  position.  His  duty 
was  to  pave  the  way,  give  warning  of  any  obstacle 
which  might  prove  in  surmountable,  and  actas  the  eyes 
of  the  main  body,  which  followed  at  short  interval. 

Years  had  passed  by  since  he  had  ridden  on  such 
an  errand,  but  his  blood  warmed;  the  old  familiar 
zest  that  rises  only  where  life  faces  death  by  choice 
and  not  by  chance  set  his  veins  tingling,  and  tickled 
his  interest  in  existence. 

"I  wouldn't  have  missed  this  little  jaunt  for  a 
million,"  he  said  softly,  to  himself,  and  laughed 
aloud  even  as  he  reined  back  before  a  levelled  rifle. 
A  Cossack  post  concealed  in  a  dry  ditch  at  a  safe 
distance  from  the  city  had  halted  him,  and  there 
was  little  time  to  parley. 

"Urgent  despatches  for  His  Excellency.  The 
countersign  'St.  James  of  the  Sierra.'  Stand  back 
and  don't  delay  us,"  he  cried  authoritatively,  and, 
shaking  his  horse  into  a  hand-gallop  again,  went  on 
his  way,  but  laughing  no  longer.  As  he  topped 
the  wide  depression  in  which  the  ditch  ran,  he  could 
see  ahead  of  him  the  city  gate  of  Alta  Cruz,  and 
squarely  in  its  centre,  looming  large  against  the 
light  beyond,  a  heavy  siege-gun  stood,  its  evil  eye 


148        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

looking  directly  down  the  road  that  he  must  travel. 
The  gun-crew  was  at  quarters,  with  the  lanyard 
stretched.  It  seemed  that  they  had  seer  the  ad- 
vancing force  and  meant  to  take  no  chances  with  it. 

He  could  not  hesitate,  and  kept  the  pace  up  till 
he  reached  the  outer  picket,  strung  across  his  path. 
A  pompous  officer  of  infantry  behind  the  firing-line 
bade  him  explain  his  reckless  haste,  and  he  told  the 
same  story  which  had  passed  the  post  beyond. 

Corbyn  held  his  hand  and  came  up  slowly,  halting 
his  men  in  two  long  ranks  with  the  width  of  the  road 
between,  to  find  his  subaltern  engaged  in  argument. 

"  It  is  His  Excellency's  order,"  snapped  the  fat  foot- 
soldier,  "  and Yes,  he  went  on  to  the  Golden 

Horseshoe  this  forenoon.  Haste  or  no  haste,  I  must 
have  all  your  names  and  personal  descriptions  before 
you  pass.  It  is  His  Excellency's  order." 

"I  have  the  troop-roll,"  said  Corbyn  patiently. 
"  If  you  have  paper  handy  it  will  save  time  to  cop^ 
it  entire." 

The  fussy  guardian  of  the  gates  waddled  away 
to  fetch  that,  and  Allardyce,  dismounting,  passed 
through  the  screen  of  riflemen  behind  him.  They 
did  not  dare  to  stop  an  officer,  and  their  superior 
had  given  no  order  either  way.  That  busy  bee 
came  bustling  back,  carrying  sheets  of  foolscap  and 
a  fountain-pen,  but  by  that  time  the  Englishman, 
bridle  in  hand,  had  sauntered,  staring,  as  far  as 
the  group  behind  the  gun.  These  had  relaxed  a 
little  their  attentive  attitude.  The  non-commissioned 


ALLARDYCE  ACTS  VERY  CLUMSILY    149 

officer  in  charge  saluted  him  respectfully.  The  men 
drew  back  a  little  as  he  strolled  about  their  piece, 
and,  when  he  took  a  squinting  peep  along  the  sights, 
grinned  furtively  as  gunners  will  when  an  amateur 
plays  the  professional. 

It  was  no  more  than  a  mere  slip  which  caused  the 
accident.  His  spur  caught  and  he  stumbled,  catch- 
ing at  him  who  held  the  lanyard  as  he  fell. 

A  terrible  explosion  shook  the  gate-house  to  its 
brick  and  plaster  parapet.  A  charge  of  canister 
went  screaming  down  the  road  between  two  ranks 
of  plunging  horses  and  demented  men. 

For  thirty  seconds  there  was  pandemonium,  in- 
side and  out. 

Corbyn  and  his  command  had  half  divined  the 
purpose  which  had  taken  Allardyce  among  the 
enemy.  They  watched  with  bated  breaths  while 
he  made  sure  that  it  was  safe  to  fire  between  their 
ranks,  and  no  man  lost  his  seat  when  the  crash  came. 

They  drove  their  frantic  horses  through  the  smoke 
before  the  terror-stricken  linesmen  had  recovered 
sight  and  hearing.  Allardyce  had  clung  to  his 
bridle  and  been  dragged  clear.  He  got  the  reins 
right  and  was  already  in  his  saddle  when  Corbyn 
reached  his  side. 

Meggs  came  next  and  then  their  troopers  streamed  in. 
And  while  the  steeples  of  the  city  rocked  and  rang 
to  the  wild  tocsin  of  alarm  the  twenty-three  rode 
hell  for  leather  into  the  heart  of  the  hornets'  nest 
they  had  stirred  up  so  efficaciously. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

THE  city  of  the  golden  spires,  as  Alta  Cruz  is 
fondly  called  by  its  inhabitants,  was  sparkling  in 
the  morning  sunshine  when  two  dusty  travelling- 
carriages  drew  up  before  the  great  pink  marble 
palace  which  looks  loftily  across  the  Plaza  Principal. 

Dennis  O'Dare  helped  Fifi  from  the  first  of  these, 
and  the  assiduous  Von  Rudolf  stood  beside  the  other 
while  the  President  alighted.  Then  Beatriz  came 
forth,  without  availing  herself  of  the  hand  extended 
by  her  relative. 

They  all  went  up  the  steps  together,  the  guard 
presenting  arms,  while  such  of  the  populace  as  were 
already  astir  and  had  happened  to  be  passing  through 
the  square  peered  in  upon  them  from  behind  the 
gilded  railings,  gaping  at  the  spectacle  but  without 
outward  sign  of  approval;  for  the  Tiger's  yoke 
pressed  full  heavily  on  the  common  people.  But, 
as  they  reached  the  pillared  portico  and  there  came 
running  forth  to  greet  them  one  who  had  been 
watching  from  within,  a  cry  of  "  Viva  Sariol!"  re- 
sounded from  the  background,  and  President  Ybarra 
bit  his  lip  till  the  blood  came. 
150 


THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE        151 

The  black  frown  faded  from  his  face,  however,  as 
he  shook  hands  with  the  effusive  newcomer,  and, 
turning  to  his  cousin,  he  said  ceremoniously:  "I 
have  the  honour  to  present  to  you  don  Quentin 
Sariol,  Vice-President  of  San  Benito  and  my  most 
valued  friend." 

"  I  kiss  your  hands ;  I  am  your  humble  servant," 
declared  don  Quentin  with  breathless  volubility. 
"What  news  do  you  bring,  Ybarra?  There  are 
strange  rumours  in  the  air.  Pray,  pardon  my 
abruptness,  senorita.  We  live  in  stirring  times; 
and  it  is  for  His  Excellency's  welfare  that  I " 

"What  is  the  latest  from  La  Boca?"  asked  the 
President,  cutting  his  explanation  short.  "Has 
any  message  reached  you  from  the  Pass  ?  " 

"The  wires  are  down,"  said  Sariol,  without 
attempting  to  suppress  the  malice  in  his  voice. 
"There  will  be  no  more  word  from  La  Boca  in  the 
mean  time,  I'm  afraid." 

Ygnacio  Ybarra  glared  at  him,  but  made  no  other 
comment  on  the  unwelcome  information. 

"Order  fresh  horses,  Von  Rudolf,"  he  snapped 
over  his  shoulder,  and  the  General  transmitted  the 
command  to  an  adjacent  orderly  in  a  tone  of  in- 
different contempt.  He  was  no  lackey,  and,  al- 
though it  pleased  him  for  the  present  to  ride  at  the 
head  of  the  presidential  lifeguards,  he  was  ready 
and  willing  to  show  this  South  American  savage  that 
it  was  not  a  menial  who  wore  his  livery. 

Nor  was  His  Excellency  slow  to  realise  that  he 


152         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

had  made  a  false  step.  "I  wish  you'd  take  my 
cousin  into  breakfast,  Karl,"  he  said  in  a  conciliatory 
tone.  "  I've  business  to  discuss  with  Quentin  here, 

and off  you  go.  Show  these  two  also  where 

to  find  food,  if  you  will." 

Fifi  and  O'Dare  followed  without  a  word  as 
Beatriz  moved  forward  on  Von  Rudolf's  arm,  and, 
after  she  had  been  bestowed  within  the  President's 
private  apartment,  he  showed  them  into  an  adjoining 
room,  wherein  was  spread  a  repast  the  sight  of 
which  gladdened  Dennis's  heart  for  the  sake  of  his 
travelling  companion. 

Von  Rudolf  shot  a  swift,  questioning  glance  at 
Fifi,  and  withdrew,  while  O'Dare,  who  did  not 
approve  of  his  evident  interest  in  her,  ministered  to 
all  her  need  solicitously.  An  onlooker  might  have 
inferred  that  he  himself  had  some  especial  interest 
in  the  sweet-faced  girl  who  accepted  his  attentions 
so  gratefully. 

Ybarra  did  not  waste  much  time  over  affairs  of 
state  with  the  Vice-President.  He  rejoined  his 
cousin  within  ten  minutes,  and,  having  seen  that 
her  wants  were  supplied,  dismissed  the  servants, 
helping  himself  from  the  buffet  before  he  sat  down 
beside  her. 

"  Listen,  Beatriz,"  he  said  sharply,  and  she  looked 
up  at  him  in  displeased  surprise.  "There  is  no 
time  for  further  trifling,  and  we  must  understand 
each  other  clearly.  Crisis  approaches  fast — I  have 
not  weeks  to  woo  you  in — I  have  no  option  but  to 


THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE         153 

act.  You  know  that  I  intend  to  marry  you — and 
that  our  union  will  save  San  Benito  from " 

She  interrupted  him  with  flashing  eyes.  "  Peace, 
man!"  she  cried.  "Do  not  perjure  your  unfortunate 
country. 

"  You  know  that  I  will  never  marry  you — not  even 
in  order  to  fill  your  empty  purse.  You  know  that 
if  you  are  forced  from  your  dictatorship  to-morrow 
San  Benito  will  be  better  off  than  it  is  to-day. 

"I  have  told  you  that  my  troth  is  pledged  else- 
where, and,  let  me  tell  you,  since  there  is  no  time  for 
further  trifling,  that  I  hold  my  least  pledge  sacred. 
Would  you  could  say  as  much!" 

His  face  grew  livid  as  she  thus  defied  him,  for 
heretofore  their  intercourse  had  been  more  guarded, 
and  he  had  never  doubted  that,  sooner  or  later,  he 
would  be  able  to  achieve  his  object:  and  her  al- 
legiance to  his  rival,  thus  set  forth  in  words  for  the 
first  time,  was  in  itself  sufficient  to  provoke  him  to 
the  point  of  frenzy.  Who  was  the  American  dog 
that  would  dare  to  beard  the  Tiger  of  San  Benito 
in  his  own  den! 

"  Cuerpo  de  dios!"  swore  the  President.  "I'll 
free  you  from  your  troth,  fair  cousin — and  no  least 
pledge  will  bind  you  after  I  have  finished."  He 
rushed  to  the  door.  "Chamberlain!  Find  Father 
Agustln  and  tell  him  that  he  is  to  travel  with  us. 
We  leave  within  five  minutes.  And  let  the  people 
know  that  I  shall  bring  a  bride  back  with  me  from 
the  Golden  Horseshoe — the  dona  Beatriz  Ybarra." 


154         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

The  official  who  had  come  at  his  call  went  away 
hastily  to  carry  out  his  orders :  and  when  the  Presi- 
dent set  forth  again  with  his  party  there  was  a  priest 
in  their  company,  much  to  the  dissatisfaction  of 
Dennis  O'Dare,  who  thought  that  three  in  a  travel- 
ling carriage  was  the  worst  of  company. 

All  the  church-bells  were  ringing  wildly.  At 
the  street-corners  there  were  cheering  crowds.  His 
Excellency's  waning  popularity  had  apparently 
received  a  much  needed  fillip,  and  that  in  the  nick 
of  time.  Could  he  but  succeed  in  replenishing  his 
empty  treasury  he  might  count  on  their  close  al- 
legiance. 

Quentin  Sariol,  standing  on  the  palace  steps, 
whence  he  had  sped  the  couple  whose  announced 
engagement  had  so  pleased  the  fickle  populace, 
laughed  with  low  glee. 

"  The  fool ! "  he  said,  speaking  thus  disrespectfully 
of  his  superior.  "  The  stupid  fool — to  think  that  such 
a  woman  would  defy  him  with  mere  words!" 

A  long  day's  journey  took  the  tired  travellers  into 
the  far  recesses  of  that  great  sierra  whose  volcanic 
peaks  look  down  on  five  republics.  Von  Rudolf, 
faithful  to  his  task,  went  with  them  all  the  way,  and 
it  was  well  he  did  so,  for  in  a  wild  ravine  they 
were  beset  by  a  strong  body  of  insurgent  infantry, 
wild  mountaineers  and  no  mean  marksmen,  who, 
under  more  efficient  leadership,  might  have  put 
period  to  this  history  there  and  then.  After  a 
fierce  contest  they  were  driven  from  their  coigns  of 


155 

vantage  with  only  the  death  of  a  dozen  government 
troopers  to  their  credit.  The  defile  was  picketed, 
fresh  horses  harnessed  in  the  place  of  those  which 
had  fallen  under  fire,  the  two  women  came  forth 
from  among  the  boulders  behind  which  they  had 
found  shelter,  and  the  cortege  reached  its  destination 
without  further  incident. 

The  Golden  Horseshoe  was  a  vast  recess,  scooped 
by  some  primeval  power  out  of  the  perpendicular 
cliff-face  which  spread  for  leagues  on  either  side  of 
it,  towering  farther  than  the  eye  could  reach. 
Its  only  opening  looked  back  towards  Alta  Cruz, 
across  the  intervening  hill-tops,  and  was  guarded  by  a 
natural  rampart-like  ridge  through  which  a  narrow 
entrance  had  been  blasted  by  the  hand  of  man. 
Above  it  was  the  sky,  moulded  to  horseshoe  shape 
by  the  encircling  walls  of  rocks,  all  golden-yellow 
in  the  evening  sunshine. 

Within  lay  a  great  circular  expanse  of  level 
pasture,  well  watered  by  the  mountain  stream  which 
showed  like  a  white  thread  against  the  precipice 
five  hundred  feet  above.  Sheerly  in  its  centre, 
rising  from  the  still  sea  of  verdure  round  it 
like  an  island,  stood  a  high,  steep,  unclimbable 
plateau,  an  altar  of  the  gods  pushed  up  entire 
out  of  the  solid  earth,  whereon  were  visible 
a  clump  of  trees  and  a  cluster  of  low  white 
buildings. 

With  a  sufficient  garrison  at  the  horseshoe  heel, 
where  the  only  possible  entrance  was,  the  place  must 


156        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

be  quite  impregnable.  And  the  garrison,  no  less 
than  two  regiments,  was  there. 

The  Golden  Horseshoe — the  Herradura  de  Oro, 
as  the  natives  knew  it — was  Ybarra's  property.  He 
had  been  born  there,  and  meant  to  die  there,  when 
his  time  should  come,  fighting  to  a  finish,  with  the 
mountains  at  his  back.  It  was  his  last  resort,  the 
Tiger's  lair,  a  place  of  terror  to  the  simple  country- 
folk. Strange  legends  clung  to  it,  and  he  made 
the  most  of  them  for  his  own  purposes.  His  flocks 
and  herds  all  carried  the  horseshoe  brand.  He 
had  made  a  golden  horseshoe  the  sign  and  seal  of 
his  evil  career.  It  was  said  that  the  great  black 
stallion  he  always  rode  was  shod  with  the  precious 
metal. 

O'Dare  stared  about  him  uneasily  as  the  great 
walls  seemed  slowly  to  encompass  him.  "It  won't 
be  easy  to  break  out  of  here,"  he  muttered.  "  Did 
you  ever  see  such  a  place,  Fifi  ?  " 

"It's  very  lovely,"  the  girl  answered  gently,  her 
eyes  on  the  afterglow  stealing  round  the  stupendous 
circle  of  stone. 

"  That's  true  enough,"  he  admitted  grudgingly, 

"  but "  They  drew  up  under  the  fortress-like 

shadow  of  the  central  height,  and  there  alighted. 
Ybarra  and  his  cousin  followed,  and,  taking  the  lead 
again,  slowly  ascended  a  steep  winding  staircase, 
cut  in  the  solid  rock. 

It  was  a  long  climb  to  the  top,  but  once  there 
they  could  scarcely  restrain  the  exclamations  of 


THE  GOLDEN  HORSESHOE         157 

amazement  which  rose  unbidden  to  their  lips  as  the 
full  beauty  of  the  scene  displayed  itself. 

Even  Ybarra  was  touched  for  an  instant  as  he 
looked  back  towards  the  city  of  the  golden  spires, 
all  glittering  in  the  tender  sunset  beyond  the  blue 
hills  in  between. 

"  You  will  be  happy  here,  my  Beatriz  ?  "  he  whis- 
pered, but  she  turned  from  him  with  a  cold  gesture 
of  contempt. 

"Never,  with  you,"  she  answered  steadily. 

O'Dare  had  not  failed  to  notice  that  the  stair  up 
which  he  had  just  panted  was  guarded  both  below 
and  above.  He  saw  the  twinkling  camp-fires  of  the 
garrison  on  the  inner  glacis  of  the  ridge  that  shut  the 
Golden  Horseshoe  in.  But,  beyond  the  single 
sentry  at  the  top  of  the  steps  there  seemed  to  be  no 
armed  force  on  the  plateau  itself. 

"It's  safe  enough  without  them,"  he  grumbled 
disconsolately  under  his  breath.  "  No  visitors  with- 
out wings  will  trouble  us  here.  I'd  hate  to  go  too 
near  the  edge  on  a  dark  night." 

There  were  wide  unkempt  gardens  about  the 
white  buildings  which  formed  Ybarra's  aerial 
residence,  and  beyond  these  a  thicket  of  low  trees 
which  sheltered  them  from  any  sudden  blast. 

Once  within  the  walls,  however,  they  soon  forgot 
the  strangeness  of  their  situation.  Hl-kept  as  the 
surroundings  were,  no  detail  of  comfort  was  lacking 
in  the  interior  of  the  rambling  dwelling.  Serv- 
ants were  waiting  to  receive  them.  All  were  treated 


158         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

with  consideration.  The  women  were  taken  charge 
of  by  two  maids,  the  President  had  two  men  to 
attend  him,  and  to  O'Dare  was  assigned  a  single 
servant.  The  priest  seemed  to  have  betaken  him- 
self elsewhere  for  the  time  being. 

He  appeared  again  at  dinner-time,  however,  and 
ate  with  the  two  others,  while  Beatriz  sat  with 
her  cousin  at  a  separate  table. 

It  was  a  silent  meal,  and  every  one  was  glad  when 
it  was  over.  But,  ere  they  separated  for  the  night, 
Ybarra  took  the  opportunity  to  explain  his  plans  and 
dispositions. 

"You  know  the  rules,  dom  Agustin,"  he  said, 
turning  his  chair  to  face  the  other  table,  speaking 
abruptly,  and  with  finality.  "You,  senor  O'Dare, 
may  learn  them  from  the  holy  father.  My  poor 
house  here  with  all  that  it  contains  is  at  your  dis- 
posal, so  long  as  you  do  not  transgress  them. 

"  I  have  come  hither  to  celebrate  a  wedding — my 
own,  with  the  dona  Beatriz  Ybarra.  It  will  take 
place  within  my  private  chapel  to-morrow  night  at 
this  hour.  Dom  Agustin  will  wed  us,  and  you 
two  will  attend  as  witnesses. 

"Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  give  you  the  good- 
night." 

He  rose  and,  bowing,  left  them  dumbly  conscious 
of  their  helplessness  in  his  hand.  Presently  the 
women  went  off  for  the  night,  weary  enough  to 
forget  their  troubles  in  sleep. 

O'Dare   also   was   fatigued   almost   beyond  en- 


THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE          159 

durance,  but  he  sat  on  and  smoked  a  very  sound 
cigar  the  priest  produced,  in  the  hope  of  extracting 
some  temporal  comfort  from  that  source. 

Ybarra  seemed  to  have  forgotten  that  neither  could 
understand  the  other,  and  the  rules  of  which  he 
had  spoken  could  not  therefore  be  imparted  to  the 
stranger  within  his  gates.  Dom  Agustin  knew 
little  English,  and  O'Dare  no  Spanish  worth  speak- 
ing. They  compounded  on  such  few  words  of 
Latin  as  the  actor  still  carried  in  his  memory,  and, 
having  exhausted  these,  parted  with  mutual  com- 
passion, little  the  wiser  of  their  intercourse. 

Beatriz  had  shown  her  cousin,  the  President,  a 
bold  enough  front,  but  she  was  none  the  less  dis- 
mayed by  his  relentless  purpose,  and,  in  her 
dread  that  he  might  carry  out  the  threat  he  had 
made  so  seriously,  she  had  confided  to  Fifi  the 
secret  she  had  kept  locked  up  in  her  own  heart  for 
so  long.  She  loved  Philip  Corbyn.  She  had  always 
loved  him ;  how  well  and  truly  she  had  not  realised 
till  too  late.  And  she  knew,  too,  now  that  he  had  not 
slighted  her  as  she  had  thought,  that  she  had  mis- 
judged without  trial  the  man  she  loved.  It  hurt  her 
sorely  to  recall  the  past. 

"  I  thought  he  might  have  called  or  written  when 
I  arrived  in  New  York  from  Europe,"  she  told  her 
friend, as  they  paced  the  weed-grown  garden  together 
at  an  early  hour  the  next  morning.  "But  I  feel 
sure  now  that  he  must  have  done  both  without  my 
knowing,  and  my  blind  pride  kept  me  from  seeking 


160        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

him  out  till  it  was  too  late.  Dear,  profit  by  my 
experience.  Be  less  ungenerous  than  I  have  shown 
myself.  Pity  me,  too,  for  the  heavy  penalty  of  my 
unfaith." 

Fifi's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  even  as  she  blushed 
rosily  at  thought  of  the  tale  Dennis  O'Dare  would 
assuredly  tell  her  some  day;  and  that  at  no  distant 
date,  her  heart  whispered. 

"You  must  not  blame  yourself,"  she  said  gently. 
"You  were  betrayed,  and  the  plot  was  a  cunning 
one.  It  is  so  difficult  to  find  one's  way  in  the  dark." 

"I  was  blind  even  in  broad  daylight,"  Beatriz 
answered.  "  I  knew  that  I  could  trust  Phil  entirely, 
and  yet  I  let  a  petty  pique  come  between  us.  It's 
all  been  my  fault,  Fifi,  and — I  don't  know  what  to 
do  now." 

She  knew  what  she  meant  to  do  if  her  cousin 
should  carry  out  his  most  monstrous  threat,  but 
that  would  not  bear  speaking  about.  When  the 
time  came  she  would  act,  but  until  then  she  must 
seek  some  escape  from  the  net  which  was  closing 
about  her  with  every  hour  the  watch  at  her  wrist 
ticked  away. 

"Here's  Denny,"  Fifi  cried,  very  much  relieved. 
She  had  apparently  great  faith  in  the  resourceful 
O'Dare.  "He'll  perhaps  have  some  plan." 

But  Beatriz  did  not  wait  to  ask  what  she  felt  must 
be  a  futile  question,  and  the  words  with  which  she 
greeted  him  showed  the  dark  trend  of  her  thoughts. 

"  You've  a  revolver,  haven't  you,  Mr.  O'Dare  ? " 


THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE         161 

"I  have  that,"  he  answered  with  an  assumption 
of  cheerfulness  for  which  he  could  find  but  scanty 
basis  inwardly.  He  had  spent  a  restless  night 
seeking  some  scheme  to  help  her,  and  that  on  which 
he  had  at  last  and  reluctantly  settled  was  the  outcome 
of  sheerest  desperation. 

"  I  have  that,  Miss  Ybarra.     But  why  ?  " 

"Would  you — will  you  let  me  have  it  this  even- 
ing ?  "  she  begged  impulsively. 

He  shook  his  head. 

"You  must  excuse  me,  but — I  may  have  use  for 
it.  If  there's  any  shooting  to  be  done,  I'll  do  it.  Let 
me  speak  plainly.  I'm  going  to  be  best  man  at 
the  ceremony  which  is  to  take  place  to-night,  and 
it  will  be  my  painful  duty  to  show  cause  why  the 
said  ceremony  should  be  stopped. 

"  If  you  see  me  stoop  to  tie  my  shoe-lace,  stand 
fast — and  don't  scream." 

She  shuddered  in  the  sunshine. 

"There  you  are,  you  see,"  he  added.  "You'd 
be  far  too  nervous " 

"  I  meant  it  for  myself — not  him,"  she  whispered. 
"  That  would  be  the  easier  way." 

He  shook  his  head  decidedly.  "I'm  going  to  be 
best  man,"  he  repeated.  "  Leave  all  the  details  to 
me." 

A  flash  as  of  distant  lightning  flared  up  from 
above  Alta  Cruz  and  was  followed  by  others  in  swift 
succession. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  Fifi  asked,  anxious  to  change  the 
11 


162        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

conversation.  She  would  be  brave  enough  later 
on,  if  need  be;  but  it  was  dreadful  to  anticipate 
the  near  future.  "  It's  been  going  on  all  morning." 

"Somebody  jiggling  a  shaving-glass  in  the  sun," 
Dennis  answered  from  the  depths  of  his  superior 
knowledge,  and  grateful  to  her  for  the  interruption. 

"  Perhaps  they're  trying  to  signal That's  it,  to 

be  sure.  A  heliograph,  of  course.  They're  talking 
to  us  here — and  I  only  wish  I  could  read  it." 

"Beatriz!"  cried  a  voice  from  the  verandah  be- 
hind, and,  turning  hastily,  they  saw  the  President. 
"Our  good  friend  Quentin  Sariol  sends  word  to 
say  that  he  would  willingly  attend  our  wedding,  and 
asks  me  whether  he  may  come.  Shall  I  say  yes  ?  " 

"  Say  yes,"  O'Dare  whispered  to  her  from  behind 
and  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment.  He  felt  that 
the  company  of  any  one  from  the  outside  world 
was  to  be  desired.  She  nodded,  and  His  Excellency 
looked  well  pleased. 

"I'm  glad  you're  agreeable,"  he  remarked  mock- 
ingly, and  turned  again  to  where,  at  one  side  of  the 
house,  a  field-telegraphist  was  receiving  and  answer- 
ing the  distant  signals. 

The  day  passed  most  drearily,  despite  strong 
efforts  on  every  one's  part  to  show  at  least  an  out- 
ward unconcern.  The  two  girls  were  haunted  by 
presentiment  of  the  apparently  inevitable  tragedy 
that  every  ruthless  hour  was  bringing  nearer. 
O'Dare  was  cudgelling  his  brains  for  some  more 
certain  means  to  prevent  the  atrocious  wrong  Ybarra 


THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE          163 

was  prepared  to  perpetrate.  He  knew  too  well  that 
it  would  be  but  by  a  miracle  that  he  could  hope  to 
carry  out  his  wild  idea  of  shooting  the  wrong-doer 
down  on  the  steps  of  the  altar.  His  Excellency  was 
far  too  clever,  too  well-accustomed  to  such  methods, 
to  afford  him  any  opportunity  of  using  the  ineffectual 
weapon  he  had  strapped  to  his  ankle  lest  he  should 
be  searched,  and,  come  what  might,  he  could  not 
let  the  victim  of  the  wrong  take  her  own  life. 

"  I'd  throw  myself  right  off  this  cliff,  if  it  would 
help  her,"  he  reflected  wretchedly,  "but,  as  things 
are,  that  would  be  worse  than  a  useless  sacrifice. 
"We'll  have  to  wait  and  see  what  happens." 

The  dinner-hour  came  round  in  due  course,  and 
with  it  Father  Agustin  appeared  again.  The  five 
of  them  sat  down  mutely  together,  and,  after  coffee 
had  been  served,  Ybarra  rose. 

"Come,  cousin,"  he  said  imperiously,  and  she 
followed  him  without  a  word,  her  fair  face  cold  and 
white  as  the  driven  snow. 

The  priest  went  next,  and  after  him  walked 
O'Dare,  with  Fifi  leaning  heavily  on  his  arm. 

"You  mustn't  faint,"  he  said  to  her  in  a  sharp 
whisper  as  they  passed  into  a  long  vaulted  passage 
which  apparently  led  underground.  "Be  brave — 
for  just  a  little  longer." 

She  shook  convulsively,  but  soon  her  steps  grew 
steadier  and  he  was  able  to  spare  a  morsel  of  mental 
advice  to  his  own  raw  nerves. 

"  Keep  cool,  you  shivering  snipe ! "  he  said  savagely 


164        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

to  himself,  "and,  when  the  time  comes,  act  like 
a  man." 

Soft  music  sounded  from  below,  and  they  went 
downwards  into  the  earth.  The  steps  they  trod 
were  damp  and  mildewed. 

"A  merry  sort  of  marriage — in  a  catacomb!" 
O'Dare  commented  inwardly;  "but  all  the  more 
convenient  for  a  funeral." 

A  double  door  in  front  moved  noiselessly  on  its 
hinges.  A  blaze  of  light  burst  through.  He  passed 
across  the  threshold  of  a  crowded  church  and  stared 
about  him  in  blind  amazement. 

What  he  saw  was  warrant  for  his  surprise. 

The  heart  of  the  height  on  which  stood  the  hacienda 
was  hollow.  A  spacious  cavern  had  been  con- 
verted, in  the  course  of  many  lifetimes ,  into  a  small 
cathedral,  perfect  in  every  detail,  from  the  most 
intricate  carving  of  its  massive  onyx  pillars  to  the 
groined  arches  of  its  lofty  roof.  The  loving  labor 
of  spent  centuries  had  gone  to  make  the  cave  a 
casket  worthy  of  its  pious  purpose.  Its  architects 
had  stinted  nothing.  Bodies  and  brains  they  had 
expended  of  their  best  and  lavishly.  It  was  a 
masterpiece,  a  finished  monument  to,  the  dead  men 
its  makers. 

Clusters  of  candles  overhead  lit  up  a  sea  of  faces 
whose  eyes,  focussed  on  the  aisle,  bespoke  a  fearful 
curiosity:  dark  faces  these,  half -Indian,  half -Spanish, 
but  wholly  unintelligent.  The  men  and  women  serfs 
who  served  the  head  of  a  half-civilized  republic, 


THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE          165 

herders,  tillers  of  the  soil,  and  household  servants, 
all  had  been  gathered  there  to  see  the  celebration 
of  a  ceremony  which  might  well  bring  down  on  the 
sacred  edifice  a  bolt  from  heaven. 

Lining  the  aisle  up  which  the  wedding-party 
passed,  and  in  two  ranks  across  the  transept,  was 
a  half -company  of  infantry  led  by  a  boy-lieutenant 
whose  tight  lips  bespoke  his  sense  of  the  responsi- 
bility resting  upon  him.  The  rank  and  file  looked 
on  with  rolling  eyeballs,  bewildered  by  the  novelty 
of  their  surroundings  and  the  role  assigned  to  them 
without  rehearsal.  Stupid  enough  at  best,  their 
wits  were  paralysed  for  the  present. 

The  solemn  notes  of  a  great  organ  echoed  in  the 
vault  above.  A  thin,  metallic  chant  rose  from  the 
congregation.  The  music  swelled  and  crashed  in 
deafening  cadence  as  Ybarra  stopped  before  the 
altar  with  his  cousin  facing  him. 

The  priest  passed  up  the  steps.  Fifi  would  have 
gone  forward,  but  the  President  held  up  a  hand,  and 
from  among  the  men  in  uniform  on  either  side  six 
files  stepped  forward.  Four  laid  hands  on  O'Dare, 
about  to  stoop,  so  suddenly  and  in  such  wise  that  he 
could  not  even  struggle.  The  other  two  stood  close 
to  Fifi,  holding  her  gently  where  she  was. 

The  whole  affair  had  been  stage-managed  to  a 
nicety,  and  Beatriz  Ybarra,  looking  about  her  in 
despair,  saw  all  chance  of  reprieve  or  succour  lost. 

The  singing  ceased,  and  at  that  instant  there  came 
thrusting  up  the  aisle  don  Quentin  Sariol,  heavily 


cloaked,  in  boots  and  spurs,  and  breathless  from 
his  journey. 

In  his  great  haste  he  had  not  even  doffed  his  hat, 
and,  when  he  did  so,  it  was  too  late  to  stay  him  in 
his  purpose. 

"  Let  no  man  move  a  finger  or  I  fire ! ''  he  cried — 
and  no  man  did  move:  for  he  had  the  prospective 
bridegroom  by  the  throat,  at  arm's  length  from  him- 
self, with  head  bent  back  upon  the  altar.  In  his 
right  hand  he  held  a  cocked  revolver,  its  muzzle 
making  a  white  mark  on  the  prospective  bride- 
groom's forehead. 

For  a  tense  moment  this  endured;  andthenYbarra 
spoke. 

"You're  earlier  than  I  expected,  senor  Corbyn," 
he  said  quietly.  "I  wish  you  wouldn't  press  so 
hard  upon  your  pistol." 


CHAPTER  XI 

DON    QUENTIN    SARIOL 

IT  had  struck  Quentin  Sariol  as  highly  humorous 
that  his  superior  in  the  executive  of  San  Benito 
should  have  assumed  the  task  of  bending  Beatriz 
Ybarra's  will  to  his. 

"The  wedding  ceremony  will  be  entertaining — 
to  the  spectators,"  the  Vice-President  told  himself, 
and  grinned  across  the  table  at  his  private  secretary. 

"Make  me  a  cipher  message  to  His  Excellency," 
he  commanded.  "  Say  that  affairs  of  state  will  take 
me  to  the  Golden  Horseshoe  on  the  instant,  and  that 
I  hope  to  arrive  in  time  to  attend  his  nuptials. 

"Afterwards  order  horses,  three  relays." 

"  And  any  escort  ?  "  asked  the  man  of  letters. 

"I'll  take  two  orderlies.  Von  Rudolf  and  his 
men  have  doubtless  left  the  road  safe,  and — I'm  not 
afraid." 

He  left  the  room  to  change  his  clothes  for  the 
prospective  journey,  and  his  underling  glanced  after 
him  through  gold-rimmed  glasses. 

"You're  a  deep  well,  don  Quentin,"  said  that 
worthy  to  himself,  "  and  if  you  meet  a  few  Reds  by 
the  way  it  will  not  inconvenience  you. 
167 


168         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"I  only  wish  I  knew  whether  you  or  the  Tiger 
will  come  out  on  top." 

There  was  an  answer  to  the  message  waiting  when 
Sariol  came  in  again.  "  At  half  past  nine  to-night," 
it  said;  and  that  was  all. 

"I'll  start  at  once,  and  dine  with  them  at  eight. 
I'm  curious  as  to  the  outcome  of  the  evening.  It 
will  also  be  amusing  to  watch  them  together,"  he 
reflected  mischievously,  and  so  set  forth. 

He  made  good  speed  upon  the  journey,  finding 
fresh  horses  ready  for  him  at  each  stage,  and  early 
sunset  saw  him  at  the  entrance  of  the  gorge  wherein 
the  President  had  been  attacked  the  day  before. 

"  We'll  wait  on  this  side  until  dark  comes  down," 
he  told  his  two  protectors,  and  dismounted.  "It 
will  be  safer  then  than  in  the  half-light." 

He  threw  his  reins  to  one  of  them  and  sauntered 
onward,  sucking  at  his  cigar,  to  a  low  ridge  between 
two  clefts  in  the  cliff-side  guarded  by  battlements  of 
boulders,  at  the  back  of  which  the  highway  dipped 
again  into  the  heart  of  the  ravine,  where  it  became 
a  narrow  wheel-track  cut  in  the  concave  cliffs. 
The  troopers  had  ensconced  themselves  among  the 
rocks  below  to  escape  unfriendly  observation. 

"  A  sweet  spot  for  an  ambush ! "  said  don  Quentin 
inwardly,  and  sat  down  on  the  summit  to  make  men- 
tal notes  for  future  reference.  Then  his  attention 
became  concentrated  on  a  split  tree-trunk  facing 
him  in  front,  not  a  stone's-throw  from  where  he  was 
sitting,  and  he  saw  clearly  a  brown  rifle-barrel  rest- 


DON  QUENTIN  SARIOL  169 

ing  upon  the  fork,  behind  which  two  white  eyeballs 
were  fixed  steadily  on  the  top  left-hand  pocket  of 
his  waistcoat. 

He  did  not  stir,  nor  yet  cry  out.  He  had  recalled 
to  mind  the  fact  that  a  warm  wind  was  blowing  from 
behind  him;  and  that,  therefore,  his  voice  might  not 
carry  far  in  that  direction.  And,  even  as  his  secre- 
tary had  supposed,  he  had  small  cause  to  fear  the 
revolutionists. 

He  did  not  move  when  he  heard  stealthy  footsteps 
on  the  splintered  shale  among  the  undergrowth 
above  him,  but  when  a  sharp  voice  said  "Hands 
up!"  he  held  his  hands  up  promptly. 

Some  one  behind  withdrew  the  pistol  from  its 
holster  in  his  belt,  and,  having  made  sure  he  had 
no  other  arms  concealed  about  him,  said  suavely, 
"Thank  you.  I  think  you  may  drop  your  hands 
now,  if  you  wish.  But  don't  make  any  noise,  or 
I  — 

The  speaker  stepped  in  front  of  him,  a  slim  youth 
in  the  uniform  of  San  Benito,  and  Sariol  looked 
nonplussed  for  the  first  time. 

"What  means  this  outrage,  seftor  teniente?"  he 
asked  stiffly.  "  Is  the  Vice-President  of  San  Benito 
to  be  treated  thus  by  a  commissioned  officer  of  the 
Republic?" 

"  Call  up  your  men,  and  order  them  to  lay  their 
arms  down,"  ordered  his  captor,  as  if  he  had  not 
heard,  and  Sariol,  bewildered  but  obedient,  did  so. 

The  troopers  tramped  along  on  foot,  leading  the 


170        THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

horses,  to  where  he  sat.  They  handed  their  weapons 
over  without  protest  at  a  word  from  him,  and, 
having  explained  the  purpose  of  their  presence  in 
his  company,  were  bidden  to  get  back  to  Alta  Cruz 
at  top  speed  and  on  foot.  They  did  so  without 
delay,  asking  no  questions,  evincing  no  undue 
surprise,  only  too  thankful  that  their  throats  had 
not  been  cut. 

Sariol,  still  smoking  philosophically,  was  led 
uphill,  through  a  steep  crevice,  into  the  presence  of 
another  stranger,  who  seemed  pleased  to  see  him. 

"We  met  in  Alta  Cruz  three  years  ago,  don 
Quentin,"  said  that  individual  in  answer  to  his 
prisoner's  puzzled  inquiry,  and  the  Vice-President 
looked  very  much  relieved.  He  had  begun  to  doubt 
that  he  had  sprung  a  trap  of  the  Tiger's  setting,  and 
that  the  Vice-Presidential  seat  would  soon  be  vacant. 

"My  old  friend  don  Felipe  Corbyn!"  he  cried, 
cordially.  "I  am  delighted!  But — how  came  you 
here? 

"  Santissima  Maria  !  It  was  you  then  who  rode 
through  the  capital  with  twenty  devils  like  yourself ! 
We  thought  the  Reds  were  at  our  throats  until  the 
north  gate  told  us  that  a  troop  of  Karl  von  Rudolf's 
fire-eaters  had  broken  in  there.  And  then  the 
southern  sallyport  sent  word  up  that  a  cavalry  patrol 
had  passed  out  hotfoot  for  the  Golden  Horseshoe. 

"  So  you  have  all  your  men  in  our  new  uniform ! 
You're  brave,  my  old  friend,  and,  as  they  say,  none 
but  the  brave  deserve  success." 


DON  QUENTIN  SARIOL  171 

"  Ybarra's  at  the  Golden  Horseshoe  ?  "  Corbyn 
asked  as  they  sat  down  together  by  a  deadwood 
fire  concealed  within  a  hollow  on  the  hill-side. 

"  He  is.  And  it  may  interest  you  to  know  that  he 
intends  to  wed  the  dona  Beatriz  to-night.  The 
hour  is  set  for  half  past  nine,  and  I  was  on  my  way 
to " 

He  turned  his  head,  to  hide  the  malicious  grin 
called  forth  by  his  listener's  startled  malediction. 

"  It's  only  half  past  seven  now,"  he  said  tentatively 
and  looking  at  his  watch.  "There  is  still  time  to 
reach  the  hacienda  ere  the  ceremony  starts,  if  you 
would  care  to  witness  it  with  me.  Ybarra  would 
be  pleased,  I'm  sure,  to  see  you  at  his  wedding." 

"Excuse  me  for  five  minutes,"  his  host  inter- 
rupted, and,  calling  Meggs  across  from  an  adjacent 
fire,  held  whispered  conversation  with  him. 

Don  Quentin  Sariol  made  no  demur  when  he 
was  presently  required  to  exchange  his  clothes  for 
a  spare  uniform.  He  yielded  up  his  papers  without 
protest,  and  supplied  the  countersign  correctly  as 
if  he  had  been  performing  an  agreeable  duty. 
In  part  he  was,  since  any  misfortune  which 
might  overtake  Ybarra  would  help  his  own  suc- 
cession, while,  once  the  President  had  the  mastery 
of  his  cousin's  millions,  he  himself  might  look  for 
a  short  shrift. 

It  therefore  suited  his  own  hand  to  help  the  Ameri- 
can in  the  mean  time,  and,  when  that  rash  spirit 
rode  forth  on  his  risky  errand,  with  but  two  men 


172        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

for  following,  he  knew  all  Quentin  Sariol  could  tell 
him  concerning  current  dispositions  at  the  Golden 
Horseshoe.  That  did  not  amount  to  a  great  deal, 
since  His  Excellency  had  always  been  astute  enough 
to  guard  the  secrets  of  his  final  refuge  very  jealously, 
but  Corbyu  was  thankful  for  every  detail  thus  avail- 
able. 

The  night  passed  quietly  after  he  had  gone,  and 
don  Quentin  made  himself  quite  at  home  with  his 
remaining  hosts.  He  was,  at  worst,  a  cheerful 
scoundrel,  with  few  illusions  as  to  honesty  in  walk 
or  conduct. 

He  laughed  amusedly  when  Meggs  showed  him  his 
own  signature  on  the  commission  he  had  received 
from  Barr  of  Mobile. 

"A  forgery,  without  doubt,"  he  remarked,  lying 
needlessly,  as  a  matter  of  habit.  "  But  all  the  same, 
senor,  it  would  oblige  me  if  you  would  put  that 
document  in  the  fire." 

Meggs  did  so,  having  no  further  use  for  it,  and 
Sariol  thanked  him  effusively.  "And  we  need  bear 
the  good  Barr  no  great  grudge,"  he  remarked  con- 
templatively, watching  it  burn.  "I  should  have 
been  glad,  of  course,  if  I  could  have  availed  myself 
of  your  services,  but,  as  things  are,  you  have  found 
the  uniforms  very  useful.  I  shall  be  infinitely  in- 
debted to  you  if  you  will  forget  that  the  name  he 
forged  was  mine. 

'*  In  San  Benito  we  are  not  yet  civilised,"  he  said  to 
AUardyce  as  they  sat  smoking  side  by  side,  "and 


DON  QUENTIN  SARIOL  173 

might  is  right.  My  friend  Ybarra  rules  with  a  high 
hand,  and  he  has  Von  Rudolf  to  help  him,  but 
— now  that  there  is  a  woman  in  the  case  we  may  see 
Changes.  Lopez  of  Paraguay  was  still  alive  when 
[  was  born,  and  he  had  cause  to  curse  the  petticoats 
before  he  died.  Ybarra  also  calls  himself  'the 
Tiger/  but  as  for  me  I  need  no  alias.  When  the 
time  comes  I  shall  be  merely  Sariol,  the  President, 
and  at  your  service  always." 

The  bait  was  clumsy.  Allardyce  ignored  it,  and 
the  other  said  no  more  on  that  subject. 

Next  day  hung  very  heavily  on  the  hands  of  those 
who  were  waiting  there  the  news  which  did  not 
come. 

The  orders  left  by  Corbyn  were  that  they  should 
stand  fast  for  twenty-four  hours,  after  which, 
failing  word  from  him,  they  were  to  act  as  should 
seem  to  themselves  most  fitting. 

"When  dusk  came  down  again,  Meggs  and  Allar- 
dyce consulted  long  and  anxiously.  With  them 
now  lay  responsibility  for  the  next  step,  and  twenty 
lives  beside  their  own  depended  on  their  decision, 
wise  or  unwise. 

"  Let's  put  it  to  the  others  first,"  suggested  Meggs 
after  they  had  formed  a  plan,  whose  sheer  foolhardi- 
ness  had  for  its  sole  excuse  the  lack  of  anything  more 
feasible,  and  his  friend  readily  approved  the  propo- 
sition. 

"You  talk  to  'em,  old  chap,"  said  Allardyce, 
"and  I'll  look  after  the  Vice-President." 


174         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

Meggs  gave  the  call  which  served  for  "  assembly  " 
and,  to  the  group  which  gathered  round  him  while 
Allardyce  relieved  the  guard,  explained  the  matter 
thus : 

"The  game's  against  us,  boys,  at  this  stage,  and 
we're  going  to  chance  a  bluff.  You  know  how  weak 
our  hand  is,  and  I'll  tell  you  honestly  that  it  may  cost 
us  all  our  chips.  If  any  of  you  feel  like  coming  in, 
it's  boot  and  saddle  right  away,  but  we'll  think  none 
worse  of  those  that  stand  out." 

He  stooped  and  loosened  his  own  horse's  halter 
from  the  picket-line,  led  Allardyce's  also  to  the  spot 
where  their  accoutrements  were  stacked,  and  got 
both  ready  for  the  road.  Some  one  had  saddled 
Sariol's  before  he  went  back  for  it ;  there  was  much 
noiseless  bustle  in  the  neighbourhood.  When  he 
numbered  off  the  ready  rank  in  front  of  him,  there 
were  just  twenty  men  who  had  made  up  their  minds 
to  go  the  limit. 

"There's  no  four-flushers  in  this  bunch,"  said  a 
gruff  voice  reprovingly ;  and  he  laughed  softly  as  he 
answered,  "That's  a  sure  thing,  McGuire." 

They  led  their  mounts,  all  fresh  and  willing  after 
the  long  rest,  down  to  the  roadside,  where  they 
were  on  the  point  of  starting  southwards,  when 
from  the  direction  of  Alta  Cruz  there  was  audible 
the  thud  of  many  hoofs,  the  clank  of  metal,  and  the 
echo  of  an  angry  order. 

Out  of  the  shadows  which  lay  thick  in  the  ravine 
appeared  two  shaggy  heads,  garnished  with  wicked- 


DON  QUENTIN  SARIOL  175 

looking  horns,  and  swaying  to  and  fro  on  heaving 
shoulders.  Their  slavering  lips  blew  steamy  breath 
almost  in  Meggs'  face  before  he  realised  that  they 
were  nothing  more  nightmarish  than  a  yoke  of  moun- 
tain-oxen. The  span  of  twenty  shuffled  past,  the 
rearmost  yoke  bent  almost  to  the  earth  beneath  the 
weight  of  a  high  two-wheeled  cart. 

The  driver  was  on  foot,  wielding  both  whip  and 
goad.  Perched  up  above  him  on  the  vehicle  there 
was  a  woman,  quarrelsomely  inclined,  to  judge  by 
the  way  in  which  she  presently  began  to  rate  him  for 
their  slow  progress.  Her  harsh,  complaining  voice 
disturbed  the  echoes  overhead.  The  man  made  no 
reply  beyond  redoubling  his  efforts  to  hasten  the 
pace  of  his  leisurely  charges. 

"Halt,  there!"  cried  Meggs,  and  at  the  words 
dark  figures  darted  out  upon  the  driver,  who  obeyed 
with  business-like  celerity.  The  woman  sat  quite 
still,  and  did  not  even  scream. 

Allardyce  ran  up,  and  "Drop  that  gun!"  he  said 
to  her  in  English;  "I've  got  you  covered.  Climb 
down,  quick!" 

His  tone  was  ominous,  and  she  did  as  he  ordered, 
descending  from  her  perch  with  the  agility  of  a  young 
girl. 

"Who — who  are  you?"  she  asked,  her  accents 
thin  and  shaky,  peering  intently  at  the  uniforms  about 
her.  "Shut  up,  Gonzalez,"  snapped  Allardyce, 
"  and  don't  ask  silly  questions'." 

A  hurried  consultation  resulted  in  the  release  of 


176         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

the  waggoner,  who  proved  to  be  a  stupid  peasant, 
pressed  into  the  present  enterprise  at  pistol-point. 
He  made  off,  rejoicing,  after  he  had  handed  over 
all  his  passenger's  property,  consisting  of  a  Mauser 
rifle,  a  rusty  Colt,  and  a  full  suit  of  man's  apparel. 

As  to  Gonzalez  they  were  in  two  minds  till  Sariol 
begged  speech  of  Allardyce  and  thereby  helped  them 
to  a  prompt  decision. 

"  Where  are  you  taking  me  ?  "  the  spy  asked  fear- 
fully of  the  two  troopers  who  had  bound  his  hands 
and  were  now  thrusting  him  toward  a  point  where  the 
highway  hung  starkly  over  a  deep  cleft  within  whose 
unseen  depths  a  mountain  stream  made  mournful 
music.  He  tottered  as  he  walked,  his  teeth  were 
chattering,  and  great  beads  of  perspiration  bedewed 
his  pallid  face.  In  his  ridiculous  disguise  he  made  a 
singularly  unattractive  picture,  and  they  who  had 
heard  of  the  Hilario  answered  sternly,  "To  a  safe 
place." 

He  gave  vent  to  a  very  hollow  groan,  and  would 
have  fallen  but  for  their  support. 

At  the  edge  of  the  precipice  they  dropped  him,  a 
huddled  heap,  and  drew  back  while  a  half  circle 
of  their  fellows  hemmed  him  in  with  rifles  ready. 

Allardyce  had  charge  of  the  firing-party.  "Get 
up,  Gonzalez,"  he  adjured  the  guilty  wretch  who 
was  grovelling  at  their  feet. 

"Don't  shoot!  Don't  shoot,  senor!"  that  con- 
demned coward  screamed.  "Show  mercy  for  a 
moment.  It's  worth  your  while,  I  swear.  Don't 


DON  QUENTIN  SARIOL  177 

shoot!    I'll  buy  my  life  from  you.    I'll  tell  you  every- 
thing.    Don't  shoot!" 

"  There's  nothing  you  can  tell  us  we  don't  know," 
said  Allardyce.  "  For  the  last  time  stand  up,  or  —  " 

"My  God!  but  wait,"  implored  the  doomed  man. 
"I'll  tell  you  how  to  reach  the  senorita.  I'll  take 
you  through  into  the  Golden  Horseshoe.  I'll " 

"If  you  could  take  us  safely  into  the  Golden 
Horseshoe  we  might  spare  you — for  the  present," 
Allardyce  answered  in  a  most  disbelieving  tone. 
"But  since  you  can't  " 

"I  can;  I  can,"  Gonzalez  urged.  "There  is  a 
way  * " 

"Take  him  along  with  you,"  said  the  Englishman 
contemptuously,  and  at  the  words  the  whimpering 
poltroon  was  picked  up  and  led  away. 
.  To  the  Vice-President,  whom  they  had  decided  to 
liberate,  they  bade  a  brief  farewell,  and  he  expressed 
great  pain  at  parting. 

"Yes;  I'll  go  straight  back  to  Alta  Cruz,"  he 
assured  them.  "I  do  not  pine  to  interfere  between 
you  and  the  Tiger,  although  I  should  have  liked 
to  look  on — from  a  safe  distance — at  your  meeting. 

"  Some  day  I  may  be  able  to  serve  you,  cabatteros; 
and,  until  then,  discretion,  eh  ?  That  which  has  passed 
is  safe  between  the  three  of  us  ?  Commend  me  to 
His  Excellency  for  my  closeness,  and — good-bye." 

He  went  his  own  way,  chuckling  contentedly,  and 
they  rode  forward  into  the  mountains,  Gonzalez  on 
a  led  horse  safely  guarded. 
13 


178        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

He  soon  proved  himself  useful,  for,  at  two  points  fur- 
ther on,  the  road  was  picketed.  He  gave  them  timely 
warning  of  that  fact  and  they  were  able  to  pass  unmo- 
lested at  the  cost  of  a  short  detour  to  avoid  each  in  turn. 

"I  don't  think  much  of  their  ideas  of  strategy," 
Meggs  told  Allardyce  contemptuously,  as  they  re- 
gained the  road  after  the  last  of  these.  "  If  they  had 
picketed  the  gorge " 

"They  might  have  been  trapped  in  it,"  that 
older  soldier  answered,  "and  they  value  their  own 
lives  too  highly  to  take  any  such  risk.  We  must  be 
cautious  also:  so  much  depends  upon  our  getting 
in  with  all  our  men." 

Travelling  thus,  it  was  after  midnight  before 
Gonzalez  advised  them  that  they  were  within  long 
range  of  the  ridge  enclosing  the  hacienda. 

"There  are  two  regiments  encamped  behind  it,"- 
he  told  them  in  a  terror-stricken  whisper.     "That 
foreign  mercenary,  young  Von  Rudolf  is  in  command. 
We  must  bear  west  to  where  the  stream  comes  forth, 
and  then  " 

He  hesitated.  "  What  then  ?  "  demanded  Meggs 
suspiciously. 

"There  is  the  tunnel  it  flows  through." 

"Which  wiU  be  guarded!" 

The  traitor  cogitated  deeply  ere  he  spoke  again. 

"There  is  no  guard,  senor.  That  is  the  secret 
with  which  I  have  bought  my  life  from  you.  I  trust 
it  to  your  honour — you  are  both  gentlemen,  and — 
that  was  the  bargain." 


DON  QUENTIN  SARIOL  179 

He  looked  up  furtively,  licking  dry  lips,  well  know- 
ing that  the  secret  might  be  worthless. 

"  Your  life  will  be  a  short  one  unless  we  get  safely 
through,"  Meggs  answered  grimly.  "Lead  the 
way  to  the  tunnel-mouth." 

Leaving  the  road,  their  route  lay  through  the 
broken  country  at  the  base  of  that  gigantic  peak  out 
of  whose  skirts  the  Golden  Horseshoe  had  been 
scooped.  Ere  long  they  were  forced  to  dismount 
and  lead  their  horses,  but  in  due  course  they  reached 
the  wooded  valley  through  which  had  exit  the  brawl- 
ing stream  whose  source  was  in  the  mountain-face 
beyond  the  ridge. 

There  was  no  great  head  of  water  running,  and 
Gonzalez  gasped  relief.  Had  the  great  sluice  at  one 
end  of  the  reservoir  within  the  wall  of  rock  above 
been  wide,  the  tunnel  would  have  been  impassable, 
and  there  would  have  been  scant  hope  for  him. 

"You'll  have  to  leave  your  horses,"  he  explained. 

"Where?"  asked  AUardyce. 

"There  is  an  opening  in  the  bank — see,  there — 
with  grass  and  water  in  abundance." 

It  was  too  late  to  balk  fit  details.  They  had  no 
option  but  to  do  as  he  directed. 

A  breathless  scramble  up  the  waterside  took  them 
to  a  low  opening  at  the  base  of  the  ridge,  which 
they  entered  blindly. 

Gonzalez  led  the  way,  a  stirrup-leather  fast  about 
his  waist,  and  Allardyce  had  one  hand  clenched  in 
that  while  in  tke  other  was  a  cocked  revolver. 


180        THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"Make  no  false  steps,"  observed  that  anxious 
follower,  "lest  I  should  blow  your  brains  out  by 
mistake." 

"Be  very  careful,  senor,"  begged  his  guide  un- 
easily. "I'll  take  you  safely  through,  upon  my 
honour.  A  short  half-hour  will  see  us  on  the  other 
side." 

Nor  did  he  speak  beside  the  mark,  for,  five  and 
twenty  minutes  later — five  and  twenty  years  they 
seemed  to  the  torn  and  bedraggled  climbers — the 
solid  gloom  gave  way  to  dim  star-light  and  they 
emerged  within  a  well-like  opening  over  which 
waved  tall  ghost-like  grass  and  rustling  leaves. 

Allardyce  drew  Gonzalez  back. 

"  Why  is  this  entrance  left  unguarded  ? "  he  in- 
quired menacingly. 

"  It  is  His  Excellency's  private  exit,  known  only  to 
himself — and  me,"  the  spy  replied.  "  By  opening 
the  water-gate  above,  it  can  be  blocked." 

"  Why  is  the  gate  closed  ?  " 

"  To  fill  the  reservoir  up  for  the  garrison." 

They  waited  there  till  word  came  up  the  line  that 
the  last  man  was  within  touch,  and  Meggs  crept 
ahead  to  see  whether  their  course  was  clear. 

"There's  no  one  within  sight  or  hearing,"  said 
Gonzalez.  "We're  well  within  the  ridge,  and  all 
the  troops  are  kept  close  in  quarters  there  lest  they 
should  spoil  His  Excellency's  crops.  There's  senor 
Meggs  signalling." 

Up  above,  in  the  open  air,  no  time  was  wasted. 


DON  QUENTIN  SARIOL  181 

Gonzalez  pointed  out  the  black  bulk  of  the  strange 
table-land  on  which  Ybarra's  refuge  stood,  and  they 
held  straight  for  it  in  single  file  behind  him,  their 
backs  towards  the  twinkling  points  of  fire  which 
showed  the  strength  of  the  two  regiments  set  there  to 
keep  intruders  out. 

He  did  not  lead  them  to  the  stair-foot,  where  there 
was  also  a  fire  burning  and  a  sleepy  sentry  to  dis- 
courage visitors,  but,  skirting  the  other  side  of  the 
plateau,  reached  a  long  range  of  cattle-sheds  and 
huts. 

"Be  very  cautious,"  he  requested  breathlessly. 
"The  peons'  quarters  lie  about  these  buildings  and 
there  are  many  dogs." 

Even  as  he  spoke  one  growled  suspiciously,  a 
dozen  others  answered  it. 

"Run!"  said  Gonzalez,  and  they  ran,  in  time  and 
no  more  to  escape  the  pack  which  came  hotfoot 
upon  their  trail  as  they  shut  the  door  of  the  long 
stable  they  had  entered. 

They  clambered  to  the  loft  above,  and,  through  an 
ivy-covered  trap-door  there,  into  a  crevice  of  the 
overhanging  cliff. 

At  the  far  end  there  was  a  second  scuttle  of  solid 
steel,  for  which  Gonzalez  had  a  key,  and,  once 
within  it,  he  assured  them  that  there  would  be  no 
pursuit. 

"  Only  His  Excellency  comes  and  goes  by  this  and 
the  water-gate,"  he  said.  "The  stair  on  which  we 
stand  leads  to  his  private  chapel." 


CHAPTER  XII 

DOM  AGUST/N'S  IDEA 

"  I  WISH  you  wouldn't  press  so  hard  upon  your 
pistol,"  said  Ygnacio  Ybarra.  "  It  hurts  my  head." 

"You'll  have  no  head  immediately,"  Corbyn  re- 
torted sternly,  his  trigger-finger  trembling  as  he  heard 
a  rustle  at  his  back. 

"Unless,"  he  added  doubtfully,  "you  are  prepared 
to  carry  out  the  orders  I  shall  give  you." 

"Spare  him — for  my  sake,  Phil,"  a  woman's 
voice  cried,  and  Beatriz  would  have  laid  a  hand  on 
his  arm  but  that  he  ordered  her  away.  His  chance 
of  success  hung  on  a  thread  too  slender  to  take  any 
further  risk. 

"Stand  still!"  he  ordered,  in  Spanish,  "or  I  fire." 

"  Let  no  one  move,"  Ybarra  echoed,  "  till  I  give  the 
word." 

Then  their  eyes  met  again,  and  he  continued: 
"  Tell  me  what  you  would  have  me  do,  and  I — I'll 
do  it." 

Corbyn  tried  hard  not  to  show  his  relief.     He  had 

not  dared  to  hope  that  he  could  thus  coerce  his  rival, 

who,  among  many  evil  qualities,  had  never  been 

accounted  a  coward.     Ybarra's  reckless  disregard  of 

182 


DOM  AGUSTfN'S   IDEA  183 

death  and  his  stubborn  courage  had  helped  him  to 
the  place  he  held  and  enabled  him  to  sit  secure  where 
a  more  cautious  man  would  most  assuredly  have 
come  to  grief. 

His  smooth  assent  to  that  which  was  required  of 
him,  without  demur  or  counter-stipulation,  made 
things  much  easier  for  the  American. 

"Order  your  men  to  ground  their  arms,"  that 
strategist  requested,  and  the  President  complied. 
His  words  were  audible  throughout  the  edifice.  The 
rank  and  file  laid  down  their  rifles,  the  staring  sub- 
altern in  charge  cast  sword  and  pistol  clattering  on 
the  tessellated  pavement:  he  felt  the  degradation 
of  this  strange  surrender  keenly,  but,  for  Ybarra's 
sake,  he  yielded.  It  would  have  done  no  good  to 
shoot  down  the  intruder  and  so  cost  the  trapped 
President  his  life. 

"I'll  take  a  gun  now,  Corbyn,"  said  O'Dare, 
released  from  durance,  and  joyfully  assured  that, 
however  it  might  have  happened,  it  was  Philip  Cor- 
byn himself  who  stood  there,  master  of  the  situation. 

"Do,  Denny,"  his  friend  answered.  "Come  up 
beside  me." 

"And  I,  Phil?"  Beatriz  asked  humbly. 

"Yes,  both  of  you,"  he  said,  and  they  came  for- 
ward, armed.  Their  reinforcement  carried  matters 
more  swiftly  forward,  and,  when  Fifi  also  volun- 
teered, the  congregation  was  completely  cowed 
by  the  three  weapons  levelled  at  them,  while  in 
the  background  lay  His  Excellency,  helpless  in 


184        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

the  hands  of  a  mysterious  stranger,  his  very  life 
dependent  on  their  prompt  obedience. 

"  Have  the  church  cleared,"  commanded  Corbyn. 
"  The  women  first  and  then  the  workmen ;  the  troops 
will  follow,  with  the  lieutenant  last.  They  are  to 
leave  the  hacienda  by  the  stairway.  I  have  men 
posted  there  and  any  one  who  speaks  ere  he  or  she 
sets  foot  upon  the  road  below  will  be  blown  into 
space  without  a  moment's  mercy." 

An  angry  light  shone  in  Ybarra's  eyes  as  he 
confirmed  this  disposition.  He  could  not  possibly 
conceive  by  what  means  Corbyn  had  succeeded  in 
obtaining  entrance  for  the  "  men "  of  whom  that 
anxious  diplomat  had  spoken  so  assuredly.  He 
did  not  know  that  there  were  only  two,  and  in  the 
uniform  of  his  own  army,  who  had  replaced  the 
topmost  sentries  by  the  expedient  of  a  flask  of  potent 
spirit  duly  drugged.  For  the  first  time  he  began  to 
doubt  the  durability  of  his  luck.  If  his  opponent  held 
the  stairway  his  own  position  would  be  doubly 
diflBcult. 

There  was  no  present  help  for  it,  however,  and  he 
heard  his  awestricken  dependents  shuffle  away  in 
silence,  followed  by  the  surrendered  soldiery.  They 
streamed  up  the  long  passage  to  its  exit  without  a 
whisper,  out  into  the  darkness,  and  down  the  stair 
past  the  two  troopers  stationed  at  the  top. 

And  when  the  keepers  of  the  stair-foot  would  have 
questioned  them  the  women  broke  and  ran,  with 
white  lips,  for  the  safe  shelter  of  the  huts  behind 


'DOM  AGUSTfN'S  IDEA  185 

the  stables.  Their  menfolk  followed  sheepishly, 
and,  after  them,  the  guard  of  honour  came  forth, 
unarmed,  impotent.  The  last  to  reach  ground- level 
was  the  boy-officer  who  had  been  chosen  to  com- 
mand it.  His  black  eyes  were  suffused  with  tears 
of  shame,  his  empty  fingers  twitched  convulsively, 
and  his  cheeks  were  chalk-like  in  their  pallor. 

He  formed  his  men  up,  and  marched  off  to  camp, 
there  to  inform  Von  Rudolf  of  what  had  happened. 

Ybarra  was  by  this  time  bitterly  repentant  that 
he  had  not  bidden  the  General  himself  attend 
the  ceremony.  He  had  been  so  secure  in  the  in- 
accessibility of  his  natural  stronghold  that  he  had 
thought  it  more  prudent  to  insure  the  safeguarding 
of  the  outer  gate,  and,  furthermore,  the  said  Von 
Rudolf  had  to  perfection  that  most  debonair  and 
winning  way  with  women  which  don  Ygnacio  was 
ever  striving  to  attain  but  with  equivocal  success. 
It  had  not  seemed  advisable  to  His  Excellency  to 
challenge  comparison  with  the  young  soldier  in  all 
the  glory  of  full  regimentals,  and  still  less  so  to  ex- 
pose that  young  gallant  to  further  contact  with  the 
dona  Beatrix. 

He  was  still  cursing  his  precautions  for  the  general 
good  when  Corbyn  stepped  back  and  bade  him 
stand  upright. 

He  did  so,  gladly,  and  the  two  rivals  faced  each 
other  for  the  first  time  since  they  had  dropped  their 
masks.  At  one  side  stood  the  girl  for  whom  they 
were  staking  everything.  Fifi  and  O'Dare  looked 


186        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

on,  the  latter  with  his  rifle  ready  for  any  eventu- 
ality. 

"Denny,"  said  Corbyn,  "you  know  this  place 
better  than  I.  Will  you  find  out  if  all's  well  above  ? 
The  stair-head  must  be  held  at  any  cost,  and,  if 
there's  any  other  entrance  to  the  hacienda,  it  will 
be  well  to  guard  that  also.  It  won't  be  long  before 
we  have  Von  Rudolf  to  reckon  with.  I'll  send  you 
word  if  you're  needed  here  again."  O'Dare  went 
off  to  carry  out  the  duty  imposed  on  him,  and,  when 
he  found  that  all  the  company  he  could  count  upon 
for  the  defense  consisted  of  two  devil-may-care  cav- 
alry troopers  with  a  West  Point  vocabulary,  barely 
escaped  brain-fever.  But  he  soon  assimilated  some 
of  their  ideas  as  to  the  wisdom  of  evading  worry 
until  that  spectre  should  assume  a  tangible  and 
concrete  shape,  and  so  sat  down  to  help  them  hold 
the  fort  at  the  stair-head,  since  he  knew  of  no  other 
vulnerable  point,  while  underneath  them  the  dum- 
founded  guardians  of  the  stair-foot  squatted  over 
their  fire  and  spoke  in  whispers  of  the  inexplicable 
movements  they  had  witnessed. 

"You're  foolish,  senor  Corbyn,"  said  Ybarra, 
"to  come  here  thus.  You  have  me  at  a  disadvan- 
tage for  the  moment,  but — you  scarcely  hope  to 
escape  with  your  prize,  I  presume  ? 

"  Can  we  not  settle  matters  amicably  ?  I — I  am 
willing  to  make  terms." 

Beatriz  was  about  to  speak,  but  checked  the  im- 
pulse. Corbyn  was  looking  fixedly  at  her  half-cousin, 


DOM  AGUSTfN'S  IDEA  187 

whose  eyes  fell  before  the  American's  straightfor- 
ward glance. 

"You  take  me  for  a  fool,  Ybarra,"  he  answered 
presently,  "and  perhaps  you're  right.  I'd  rather  be 
an  honest  fool  than  a  clever  rogue.  But  if  you 
think  I'm  fool  enough  to  take  your  word  for  anything 
you've  overshot  the  mark.  Pardon  my  speaking 
plainly,  but — it  will  be  best  to  understand  each 
other. 

"No  terms  that  you  could  offer  would  tempt  me 
to  trust  you.  Your  reputation  is  not  that  of  a  fool; 
and  still  less  that  of  an  honest  man." 

The  President's  pale  face  grew  paler  and  his 
teeth  clenched  under  the  unvarnished  rejection  of 
his  right  to  treat  in  honour  with  an  enemy. 

It  was  so  long  since  any  one  had  dared  to  twit  him 
with  his  weakness  that  he  had  grown  to  think  him- 
self no  worse  in  that  respect  than  any  of  his  neigh- 
bours. Upon  his  pedestal  of  autocracy  he  had  been 
immune  from  criticism;  its  personal  application 
stung  him  to  the  verge  of  violent  outbreak. 

But  with  an  effort  he  controlled  his  feelings. 

"You  have  me  at  a  disadvantage,"  he  repeated, 
"  for  the  moment.  What  do  you  mean  to  do  ?  " 

"I  have  accomplished  my  immediate  object," 
Corbyn  responded,  "which  was  to  prevent  your 
molesting  the  lady  who  will  shortly  be  my  wife.  I 
don't  know  that  I  need  discuss  with  you  my  further 
plans." 

"It  would  perhaps  be  waste  of  time  if  they  have 


188        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

any  reference  to  the  dona  Beatriz,"  Ybarra  countered, 
and  his  cousin  at  length  broke  silence. 

"  Phil,"  she  said  in  a  tense  whisper,  and  her  lover 
held  out  his  right  hand  to  her.  She  moved  towards 
him  and  he  caught  her  in  a  close  embrace  which 
healed  all  the  hurts  between  them.  But  all  the  time 
he  kept  his  left  arm  free  and  both  eyes  fixed  on  His 
Excellency — who  was  inwardly  cursing  his  astuteness. 

"Phil,"  she  said  again,  shyly,  nestling  against 
his  shoulder,  "there  is  a  priest  here.  Why  should 
not  we  " 

"  We  will,  sweetheart,"  he  answered  rapturously, 
"  and  right  away.  It  was  to  that  end  that  I  ventured 
to  detain  his  reverence. 

"Come  forward,  holy  father.  There  will  be  a 
wedding,  after  all." 

Dom  Agustin  obeyed  with  terror-stricken  readi- 
ness. Penned  in  beyond  the  altar,  he  had  been 
prevented  from  escaping  with  his  parishioners,  and 
had  waited  dumbly  while  the  two  men  talked. 

"We'll  need  another  witness,"  Corbyn  observed 
to  the  now  blushing  Beatriz.  "Fifi,  could  you  find 
Denny  for  us? 

"I'd  go  myself,  but  it  would  not  be  wise  to 
leave " 

"I'll  go,"  said  Fifi  bravely,  and,  passing  with 
swift  footsteps,  she  disappeared  in  the  dark  passage 
leading  to  the  upper  air.  The  echo  of  her  footsteps 
became  fainter  and  then  ceased. 

Ybarra  moved  an  inch  or  two  to  one  side. 


DOM  AGUSTIN'S  IDEA  189 

"Stand  still,"  his  adversary  ordered,  and  the 
words  clicked  like  the  snapping  of  a  steel  trap. 
He  stood  still,  since  he  could  see  the  blue -nosed 
bullets  in  the  revolver-barrel.  His  teeth  showed 
bare  behind  the  black  moustache  and  his  whole 
attitude  was  that  of  a  beast  about  to  spring.  Cor- 
byn  held  him  at  bay  with  unwinking  watchfulness. 

There  was  a  sudden  flash,  and  Beatriz  uttered  a 
single  strangled  cry  as  she  saw  her  lover  sink  to  the 
floor  without  a  sound.  So  instantaneous  had  been 
the  impact  of  the  great  golden  candlestick  the  priest 
had  used  as  missile  that  no  shot  was  fired.  The 
stricken  man  relaxed  his  trigger  finger  with  the 
others  and  lay  starkly  still. 

Ybarra  sprang  at  her  and  held  her  lips,  his  chap- 
lain helping  him  to  silence  her  despite  a  desperate 
resistance.  Voices  resounded  from  the  stairway. 
Fifi  and  O'Dare  were  coming  down  together.  The 
two  men  lifted  her  into  a  yawning  tomb  behind 
the  altar.  The  great  stone  slab  which  had  moved 
at  a  touch  to  give  them  entrance  swung  into  place 
again  without  a  sound. 

She  was  aware  of  an  unpleasant,  earthy  odour  and 
that  they  were  descending.  Almost  immediately 
they  stopped  and  set  her  on  her  feet.  And  one  said, 
sneeringly,  "  Your  pardon,  cousin,  if  we  have  seemed 
rough  or  hasty.  We  had  scarce  time  to  stand  on 
ceremony  with  you." 

She  did  not  answer,  knowing  that  nothing  she 
could  say  would  help  her  plight. 


190         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

The  place  in  which  they  were  standing  was  pitch 
dark,  and  she  assumed  that  it  must  be  a  crypt  coi»- 
nected  with  the  chapel. 

Ybarra  spoke  again,  quite  confidently,  confirming 
her  impression  that  it  would  serve  no  purpose  to  cry 
out  for  help. 

"Dom  Agustin  will  lead  the  way,"  he  ordered. 
"Come,  Beatriz.  Tread  carefully;  the  steps  are 
slippery — in  places." 

He  led  her  forward  and  she  followed,  dumbly 
helpless  in  his  hands,  down  an  interminable  flight  of 
steps  in  a  Cimmerian  darkness  beyond  wrords  op- 
pressive, the  only  sounds  their  dragging  footsteps 
and  Dom  Agustin's  laboured  breathing.  That  good 
man  seemed  to  be  suffering  grievous  distress,  both 
body  and  mind. 

Their  progress  was  slow,  and  twice  Ybarra 
urged  the  priest  ahead  to  greater  speed.  But 
as  he  was  about  to  speak  complainingly  a  third  time 
there  rose  from  underfoot  in  front  a  bitter  and 
blood-curdling  cry;  a  long-drawn  wail  that  rose 
full- voiced  without  a  moment's  warning  and  thinned 
away  and  died  out  in  illimitable  distance  like  the 
last  echo  of  a  lost  soul's  farewell.  Even  Ybarra 
shivered. 

The  girl  beside  him  stopped  and  thrust  her  fingers 
into  her  ears.  Her  knees  were  trembling  under 
her.  She  would  have  fallen  but  that  he  upheld  her 
and  spoke  soothingly. 

"  Be  brave,"  he  said.     "  We  are  quite  safe." 


DOM  AGUSTfN'S  IDEA  191 

"  What — what  was  that  ?  "  she  asked,  a  shrinking 
horror  of  him  in  her  tone. 

"  It  must  have  been It  was- But  never 

mind,"  he  answered  reassuringly.     "We  are  quite 
safe." 

" It  was  the  priest,"  she  whispered  brokenly;  "and 
— and — you  knew  that  he  was  going  to  his  death, 
Ygnacio!" 

"I  thought  he  had  the  secret,"  said  Ybarra 
sullenly.  "There  is  some  traitor  in  my  household. 
I  thought  it  must  be  he. 

"I  would  have  warned  him,  but — it  was  an  over- 
sight— an  accident — I  was  not  thinking.  I  am 
not  to  blame. 

"We  must — we  must  get  on — away  from  here. 
Come.  Close  your  eyes  if  you  feel  giddy.  You 
need  not  fear  while  I  am  with  you." 

He  struck  a  light  and  looked  about  him.  His 
face  was  wet  and  ghastly. 

A  few  steps  further  down  there  was  a  cresset  in 
the  tunnel  wall  and  in  a  niche  underneath  a  plentiful 
supply  of  pine-knots.  He  paused  to  kindle  a  hand- 
ful of  these  in  the  iron  basket,  and  the  illumination 
they  supplied  lasted  until  he  had  led  his  unresist-1 
ing  companion  across  the  chasm  into  which  their  ill- 
fated  forerunner  had  fallen  headlong. 

It  was  a  gaping  fissure  in  the  heart  of  the  Titanic 
altar  upon  which  the  hacienda  stood,  a  cleft  which 
came  together  overhead  and  in  an  alcove  on  either 
side  of  the  tunnel.  Below  it  seemed  to  open  out  in 


192         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

bottle-shape,  and  Beatriz,  looking  unblinkingly  into 
its  black,  abysmal  depths  as  don  Ygnacio  guided  her 
to  safety  on  the  other  side,  saw  for  herself  the  secret 
he  had  spoken  of. 

The  stairway  led  directly  to  its  lips  and  an  infer- 
nal ingenuity  had  fashioned  the  steps  on  either  side 
in  such  wise  that  a  stranger  must  most  surely  slip 
and  so  slide  smoothly  to  a  most  dreadful  death. 
For  those  who  knew,  there  was  a  narrow  gallery, 
a  two-foot  ledge  cut  for  a  man's  height  in  the  rock 
around  the  lip  skirting  one  corner  of  the  open  mouth. 
No  one  who  did  not  know  the  turning  could  escape. 

Ybarra  breathed  more  freely  after  they  had  set 
another  hundred  steps  between  them  and  the 
greedy  oubliette. 

"I  hate  this  passage!"  he  said  savagely.  "I've 
always  hated  it.  Thank  God  we're  nearly  through." 

His  spirits  rose  again,  however,  as  soon  as  they 
had  gotten  through  the  egress  in  the  ivy-covered 
cliff -face  behind  the  stables  at  its  foot. 

Thence  they  emerged  unseen,  unheard,  and,  since 
His  Excellency  could  not  seek  conveyance  save  at 
the  risk  of  rousing  inconvenient  curiosity,  they  were 
compelled  to  make  their  way  on  foot  towards  Von 
Rudolf's  camp. 

Beatriz  went  with  him,  unresisting,  since  to  resist 
would  have  been  futile,  but  she  refused  his  proffered 
arm  and  walked  apart  while  he  chatted  volubly  in 
the  reaction  which  followed  the  strain  he  had  en- 
dured. 


DOM  AGUSTIN'S   IDEA  193 

"Dona  Agustin  is  dead — and  buried,"  he  said, 
"more's  the  pity.  But  the  old  monks  who  made 
my  private  passage — the  Golden  Horseshoe  was  once 
a  mission,  Beatriz,  but  long  ago  when  the  Spaniards 
ruled  here — must  shoulder  the  responsibility. 

"There  is  no  other  priest  at  hand — and  I  must 
wait  a  day  or  two,  for  appearance'  sake,  before  I 
nominate  a  new  chaplain.  I  can't  conveniently 
account  for  his  disappearance  till  then. 

"He  was  a  faithful  fellow,  Beatriz;  and  always 
wide  awake.  He  caught  my  idea  about  the  candle- 
stick at  once — a  telepathic  sympathy,  no  doubt. 
It  will  be  difficult  to  find  his  equal.  I'll  soon  find 
some  one  else  to  marry  us,  though." 

She  bore  with  him  because  she  must,  but  speech- 
lessly, and  was  unspeakably  relieved  when  the  sharp 
challenge  of  a  sentry  interrupted  his  reminiscences: 
for  then  he  took  upon  himself  again  the  dignity  of 
his  high  office  and  his  habitual  reserve. 

Von  Rudolf  galloped  out  to  greet  them  when  he 
heard  of  their  miraculous  appearance  at  the  picket, 
and,  having  satisfied  himself  that  it  was  really  they, 
made  hasty  disposition  for  their  housing  in  the  camp, 
sending  a  man  in  on  his  own  horse  with  all  the  orders 
necessary.  He  walked  back  at  His  Excellency's 
side,  discussing  Corbyn's  most  audacious  move  and 
planning  prompt  reprisals,  but  asked  no  needless 
questions. 

They  sauntered  slowly  through  the  lines  that  their 
men  might  reassure  themselves  as  to  the  President's 
13 


194         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

capacity  for  further  mischief — the  story  that  the 
guard  of  honour  had  brought  back  had  not  im- 
proved his  prestige — and  see  beside  him  dona 
Beatriz,  the  beautiful  and  wealthy;  upon  whose 
whim,  it  had  been  rumoured,  depended  all  the  back 
pay  due  them.  And,  by  the  time  they  reached  the 
tents  which  had  already  been  prepared  for  their  re- 
ception, everything  there  was  as  comfortable  as  it 
could  be  made  at  such  short  notice. 

Von  Rudolf's  field-pavilion  had  been  swept  and 
garnished  for  His  Excellency's  cousin.  After  Ybarra 
had  inspected  it  she  plead  fatigue  and  passed  within, 
leaving  the  others  to  their  own  devices.  Once 
inside,  secure  from  observation  and  intrusion,  she 
threw  herself  despairingly  on  the  thick  rugs  with 
which  the  floor  was  covered.  Her  head  fell  forward 
on  her  forearm;  two  tears  of  misery  ran  down  her 
wrists;  and  then  she  slept,  the  deep  and  dreamless 
slumber  of  exhaustion,  mental  and  physical. 

When  she  awoke,  refreshed  and  strengthened,  it 
seemed  strange  to  her  that  day  had  not  yet  broken. 
The  inner  chamber  where  she  lay  was  dark,  but  in 
the  anteroom  beyond  a  shaded  lamp  was  burning. 
And,  seated  in  a  rocking-chair,  was  Fifi  Florian 
sewing  busily. 

She  lay  still  for  a  moment,  struggling  to  recollect, 
somewhat  bewildered,  and,  between  the  curtains, 
saw  Fifi  rise  as  a  step  came  softly  towards  the  canvas 
porchway,  also  discreetly  draped. 

Some  one  tapped  gently  and  a  hand  which  held 


DOM  AGUSTIN'S  IDEA  195 

a  scrap  of  paper  was  thrust  through.  Fifi  took  that 
with  downcast  eyes,  and,  turning  her  back  to  the 
intruder,  read  the  note,  scribbled  a  hasty  answer  on 
the  reverse  side,  and  entrusted  it  to  the  five  fingers 
visible  behind  the  screen. 

The  hand  was  withdrawn,  the  sound  of  receding 
footsteps  died  away,  and  the  occupant  of  the  rocking- 
chair  faced  about  with  guilty  haste,  laying  finger 
on  lips  imploringly,  as  Beatriz  came  through  to 
confront  the  traitress  who  was  on  terms  so  confi- 
dential with  her  worst  enemies. 

"Fifi!"  she  said  in  a  heart-broken  whisper,  her 
whole  soul  in  revolt  against  the  thought  that  her 
only  woman  friend  could  display  such  calculating 
treachery. 

Fifi  held  up  a  hand  in  protest,  and  answered 
swiftly:  "  Be  very  cautious  in  case  we're  overheard. 

"I'm  Jerry  Meggs." 


CHAPTER   XIII 

A    LOSING    HAZARD 

BEATRIZ  drew  back,  regarding  him  with  a  blind 
bewilderment.  He  would  have  paid  in  his  heart's 
blood  for  the  right  to  take  her  into  his  own  arms, 
and  hold  her  safe  there  from  her  enemies  and  his. 
But  that  might  not  be. 

"I  don't — I  can't — wJw  are  you?"  she  asked 
dully.  "Where  have  you  come  from?  How  long 
have  I  been  here  ?  " 

He  had  seen  that  in  her  heavy  eyes  which  helped 
him  to  understand. 

"I'm  Jerry  Meggs,"  he  repeated  distinctly,  set- 
ting all  his  dead  dreams  behind  him  for  her  sake. 
"I've  come  from  Phil  Corbyn,  to  take  you  back  to 
him.  He's  at  the  hacienda,  and  none  the  worse  of 
the  blow  the  priest  dealt  him.  You've  been  here 
for  close  on  twenty-four  hours,  and  much  has  hap- 
pened in  that  time.  I  think  you  must  have  had 
some  opiate  to  make  you  sleep  so  long." 

The  cloud  lifted  from  her  mind  while  he  spoke. 
She  had  swiftly  recalled  the  past,  recollected  how 
little  cause  he  had  to  run  any  such  deadly  risk  for 
her  sake.  She  could  see  from  his  face  that  his 

190 


A  LOSING  HAZARD  197 

feelings  towards  her  had  undergone  no  change  since 
that  day  on  which  he  had  told  her  in  London  that 
he  was  hers  to  dispose  of,  body  and  soul.  The 
simplicity  of  his  self-sacrifice  touched  a  responsive 
chord  in  her  heart.  His  life  was  hers,  without  need 
of  words,  though  she  had  naught  to  give  in  exchange. 
She  held  out  both  her  hands  to  him  with  an  impul- 
sive gesture  of  gratitude. 

"Jerry,"  she  said,  very  softly,  "you're  more 
than  generous." 

She  could  make  him  no  better  return,  and  even 
that  he  would  have  disclaimed. 

"Hush,  hush,"  he  answered.  "I  only  seek  to 
.see  you  happy.  There's  nothing  out  of  the  way  in 
that.  Say  no  more  now.  We're  not  alone." 

She  glanced  about  her,  but  there  was  no  one  else 
visible  within  the  canvas  walls. 

"  Tell  me,"  she  begged  in  a  low  voice,  "  how  you 
come  to  be  with  Phil.  What  has  happened  ?  " 

"I  must  be  very  brief,"  he  responded.  "I 
reached  his  side  a  couple  of  hours  ago  with  the  rest 
of  the  force  he  has  got  together  to  rescue  you. 
Dennis  O'Dare  fixed  me  up  to  play  Fifi,  and  I  came 
tripping  across  with  a  line  from  Corbyn  to  say  that 
you  would  be  sure  to  require  your  maid.  The 
pickets  passed  me  quite  readily,  and  Von  Rudolf 
sent  me  in  here  at  once.  He's  just  been  at  the  door 
begging  a  few  words  with  me.  I  answered  that  I 
would  see  him  in  twenty  minutes  or  so,  and  that  he 
must  be  careful  not  to  disturb  you.  Something  is 


198         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

going  to  happen  then,  and  I'll  trust  you  not  to  make 
a  single  sound,  whatever  you  see  or  hear. 

"  Ybarra's  on  his  way  back  here  from  Alta  Cruz, 
where  he  went  yesterday  to  talk  to  Quentin  Sariol, 
who  has  been  plotting  against  him.  He's  bringing 
a  priest  with  him,  too.  The  one  who  came  with 
you  has  disappeared. 

"  Now's  our  time,  therefore.  The  coast  is  as  clear 
as  it  ever  will  be,  and,  if  you  feel  all  right  again,  we'd 
better " 

"Yes,  I'm  quite  wide  awake  now,"  she  assured 
him.  "They  must  have  drugged  my  drinking- 
water,  I  think.  I  drank  some  just  before  daylight. 
It  seems  so  short  a  time  since  I  saw  dawn  across 
the  threshold.  But  how — what  chance  is  there  of 
our  escaping  ?  " 

"Where's  the  glass  you  drank  from?"  he  asked 
eagerly  in  reply.  She  brought  out  from  the  inner 
room  a  cut  glass  caraffe  still  half  full,  and  an  empty 
tumbler. 

Meggs  held  the  former  up  to  the  light,  and  then 
shook  it.  Its  contents  clouded  over. 

"They're  third-class  criminals,  and  clumsy  ones 
at  that,"  he  commented  more  cheerfully  than  he 
had  heretofore  spoken.  "Do  you  know  Mr.  Chal- 
loner?" 

She  shook  her  head,  in  surprise. 

"You  will  some  day,"  said  he.  "He's  a  good 
friend  of  ours.  He  and  I  have  fixed  up  a  plan  to 
get  you  away.  And  now,  if  you  will — if  you  will 


A  LOSING  HAZARD  199 

change  your  costume  for  that  which  I  have  brought 
you  in  this  suit-case,  I'll  have  you  safely  back  at  the 
hacienda  with  the  real  Fifi  for  company  by  the  time 
His  Excellency  comes  to  pay  his  morning  call  here. 
But  you  must  not  put  off  a  moment  in  the  process, 
please.  If  he  should  catch  us  by  the  way  it  would 
be  worse  than  ever  for  us  all.  And  don't  take  any 
notice  of  what  happens  here." 

She  caught  the  case  up  and  disappeared  with  a 
nod  of  assurance  ere  he  could  finish. 

He  turned  aside  and  lifted  a  corner  of  the  great 
tiger-skin  which  covered  a  dim  corner  of  the  ante- 
room, behind  the  chair  in  which  he  had  been  sitting. 

"The  game's  afoot,  old  chap,"  he  whispered 
hurriedly.  "If  any  trouble  comes  to  you  through 
your  connection  with  it,  send  up  the  signal  and  I'll 
do  my  best  to  bring  you  assistance.  We  owe  you 
more  than  we  can  pay  already,  and " 

Challoner  scowled  denial.  "Oh,  fiddlesticks!" 
said  he.  "I'm  only  amusing  myself  in  my  spare 
moments.  I've  nothing  else  to  do  till  the  Tiger 
returns." 

Meggs  dropped  the  rug  over  him,  again,  turned 
the  lamp  lower,  and  crossed  swiftly  to  the  porch. 
Some  one  without  was  coming  quietly  towards  the 
pavilion.  He  thrust  a  hand  out  through  the  cur- 
tains, and  waved  it  in  a  manner  which  he  hoped 
might  be  set  down  as  ladylike.  Soft  footsteps  once 
more  sounded  on  the  sun-baked  soil,  and  some  one, 
stooping,  kissed  his  fingers. 


200        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

He  grinned  in  a  most  unladylike  manner,  but 
composed  his  features  ere  he  pulled  the  screen 
slightly  apart  and  Karl  Von  Rudolf  entered  with  a 
low  reverence. 

The  latter  was  in  undress  uniform,  a  straight  and 
slender  figure  with  a  boy's  face,  but  sadly  lined  and 
seamed  by  the  experiences  which  had  made  a  man 
of  him  before  his  time,  and  wistful  blue-grey  eyes 
which  betrayed  disappointment  as  he  peered  in  the 
semi-darkness  at  the  shy  girl  before  him. 

"Your  pardon  for  disturbing  you,  ma'm'selle," 
he  said  in  French,  "  but  you  resemble  so  very  closely 
a  lady " 

Meggs  simulated  an  eager  interest,  and  nodded. 
He  signed  to  the  soldier  that  he  should  seat  him- 
self, and  made  pretense  of  listening  intently  for  any 
sound  from  the  inner  apartment.  He  was  really 
stifling  his  scruples  concerning  the  part  he  must  play. 

Von  Rudolf,  somewhat  mystified,  obeyed  him, 
and  lay  wearily  back  in  the  rocking-chair.  His 
legs  shot  out  in  front  of  him,  the  chair  tipped  up- 
wards, and  a  cord  across  his  throat  cut  short  the 
cry  of  anger  and  astonishment  to  which  he  would 
have  given  utterance. 

Meggs  passed  hastily  behind  him,  and,  with  a 
scarf,  blinded  him  most  effectually;  secured  his 
wrists  and  ankles  to  the  arms  and  legs  of  the  chair, 
and  poured  the  contents  of  the  caraffe  into  his  open 
mouth.  To  gag*  him  efficaciously  was  easy,  and 
after  that  he  was  quite  powerless.  Sight,  speech^ 


A  LOSING  HAZARD  201 

and  hearing  were  shut  off.  The  languor  of  drugged 
impotence  was  already  loosening  his  straining 
limbs. 

Meggs  had  executed  these  manoeuvres  at  top 
speed,  and  he  next  turned  his  attention  to  providing 
the  invaluable  Challoner  with  an  alibi  which  should 
be  unimpeachable  when  he  should  be  discovered 
there,  as  must  inevitably  happen,  since  his  profes- 
sional duties  forbade  his  joining  the  rescue-party. 
That  gentleman  was  still  on  his  knees  behind  the 
rocking-chair,  shaking  with  soundless  laughter. 

"By  the  holy  poker!"  said  he,  "but  that  was  a 
tricky  turn,  Jerry.  It  almost  made  me  explode  to 
see  you  mincing  about  like  a  hen  on  hot  bricks, 
with  a  love-lock  over  one  eye. 

"I'm  only  sorry,"  he  went  on  more  gravely, 
"that  it's  Von  Rudolf  and  not  Ybarra  we've  had 
to  put  out  of  action.  But  needs  must  when  the 
devil  drives,  and  it  was  the  only  way. 

"Now  get  busy,  and  don't  forget  to  handle  me 
this  side  up  with  care." 

Meggs  tied  him  also  hand  and  foot,  tucked  him 
tenderly  under  the  rug  again,  patted  his  curly  head 
approvingly  and  held  up  a  handkerchief. 

"  Ready  ?  "  he  asked. 

The  correspondent  nodded.  "That  was  a  tricky 
turn!"  he  repeated.  "I'm  a  gold  medallist  gar- 
roter.  Give  Corbyn  and  Allardyce  my  love,  and 
don't  forget  to  tell  them  both  that  I'm  still  on  the 
staff  of  the  Wireless.  I  don't  mind  lending  a  help- 


202         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

ing  hand  at  an  odd  moment  now  and  then,  but  it's 
only  by  way  of  relaxation." 

"I'll  tell  him  you're  the  ace  of  trumps,"  Meggs 
responded  in  a  gruff  voice.  "What  hope  would  I 
have  had  of  doing  any  good  here  if  you  hadn't " 

"  'Nuff  said,"  snapped  Challoner.  "  Get  busy, 
or  I'll  bite  you." 

He  signified,  as  soon  as  he  in  turn  was  gagged  and 
blinded,  that  he  could  live  quite  comfortably  till 
relief  came.  Meggs  gave  him  a  very  gentle  farewell 
pat,  and  pulled  the  rug  up  carefully. 

There  was  another  young  man  waiting  when  he 
had  finished  all  his  preparations  for  flight ;  a  shapely 
youth  in  motor  garb  and  goggles,  short  coat  and 
cap  and  puttees  all  complete;  who  was  blushing 
vividly. 

She  had  started  at  sight  of  Von  Rudolf's  figure 
covered  with  a  tablecloth,  and  stood  aghast  when 
Meggs  faced  her  in  the  General's  field  uniform. 

"It's  I  all  right,"  he  said  to  reassure  her.  "Do 
I  look  like  him?" 

"  I  thought  it  was  he — and  that  you,"  she  answered, 
staring  at  the  outline  in  the  chair. 

"You're  Challoner,  a  correspondent  of  the  Wire- 
less, come  through  Alta  Cruz  from  the  coast  in 
search  of  news,"  Meggs  explained  rapidly.  "Your 
motor  bicycle  is  behind  Von  Rudolf's  tent. 

"Von  Rudolf's  going  round  the  pickets  now,  and 
you'll  go  with  him.  When  we  get  to  the  outermost 
we  may  have  to  make  a  break  for  the  stairfoot  which 


A  LOSING  HAZARD  203 

is  held  by  Corbyn's  men.  If  anything  goes  wrong 
you  must  run  for  it,  while  I  keep  any  friends  that 
follow  in  check.  Whatever  happens  you  must 
make  for  the  hacienda.  Ready  ?  " 

"  Quite  ready." 

"  Off  we  go  then,  and — good  luck  to  us." 

He  turned  the  lamp  out,  and  they  started  on  their 
perilous  enterprise.  Their  way  led  through  the 
officers'  lines,  and  from  the  bell-tents  there  the 
sound  of  snoring  smote  upon  the  small  hours.  Be- 
yond were  the  servants'  bivouacks,  rude  shelters, 
screens  of  plaited  grass.  And  then  the  kitchens, 
where  a  night  cook,  brewing  coffee  for  the  duty-de- 
tail, sprang  to  attention  as  they  passed  and  startled 
Beatriz  so  that  she  all  but  screamed.  Von  Rudolf 
had  apparently  succeeded  in  imbuing  his  subordi- 
nates with  a  profound  respect  for  military  etiquette. 

Meggs  lifted  a  forefinger  in  perfunctory  response, 
and,  looking  back  from  a  safe  distance,  saw  that  the 
man  had  squatted  down  beside  his  fire  again. 

"  I  think  that  we'll  pass  current,"  he  encouraged 
her. 

They  followed  the  made  road  which  ran  straight 
from  the  ridge  to  the  stairfoot,  and  twice  met  order- 
lies bringing  reports  in  from  the  pickets.  Meggs 
opened  these  and  read  them  nonchalantly,  striking 
matches  for  light  to  do  so  in  the  shadow  of  his 
great  coat,  keeping  his  chin  well  down  within  the 
collar. 

The  first  of  them  he  sent  on  into  camp,  the  sec- 


204         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

ond  was  instructed  to  return  whence  he  had  come 
and  bid  the  non-commissioned  officer  in  charge 
await  the  General's  arrival. 

He  lit  a  cigarette,  and,  taking  his  companion  by 
the  arm  to  steady  her,  strode  forward,  cliatting 
cheerfully  in  French  of  the  most  nondescript.  As 
they  approached  the  outpost  set  halfway  between 
the  hacienda  and  the  ridge,  he  stopped  as  if  to  illus- 
trate a  point,  puffing  smoke  the  while.  They 
turned  the  guard  out  in  his  honour  and  despite  his 
indifferent  protest;  he  looked  it  over  quickly,  and 
passed  on.  Only  a  last  outlying  picket  lay  between 
safety  and  disaster.  He  had  played  his  part  ad- 
mirably. 

They  had  all  but  won  through  when  from  the 
camp  resounded  the  call  to  arms.  A  single  rocket 
soared  up  and  dropped  two  blue  stars.  They  heard 
the  sound  of  hurrying  feet  behind,  and  in  front  had 
to  face  seven  rifles  waiting  the  word  to  fire. 

Meggs  swore  vociferously  at  the  picket's  corporal 
who  presently  came  forward  and  was  most  apolo- 
getic when  he  saw  the  General;  but  would  by  no 
means  part  with  him. 

"It  is  by  your  own  order,  General,"  he  said  ap- 
pealingly,  "and  you  will  doubtless  have  me  shot, 
like*  those  poor  fellows  who  let  senor  Sariol  pass 
through,  if  I  do  not  obey  the  very  letter  of  it.  There 
were  two  stars  and  that  means  'hold  all  comers 
whatsoever.'  It  is  by  your  own  order,  General. 
For  God's  sake  don't  push  past  me,  or  I'll  fire ! " 


A   LOSING  HAZARD  205 

"  Now  run,"  cried  Meggs  in  such  a  tone  that  his 
companion  did  not  dare  to  disobey.  And  at  that 
instant  his  left  hand  shot  forth,  the  corporal  fell 
over  backward  with  a  choked  grunt,  while  the  mere 
rank  and  file,  too  much  astonished  by  such  a  strange 
display  on  the  part  of  their  redoubtable  chief  to 
offer  further  resistance,  were  glad  to  see  him  disap- 
pear into  the  darkness  ahead.  As  soon  as  he  was 
out  of  sight  they  judged  it  well  to  open  an  aimless 
fire  upon  the  surrounding  scenery. 

Two  or  three  bullets  whistled  past  the  fugitives, 
but  they  paid  no  attention  to  any  such  trifles.  What 
frightened  Meggs  far  more  was  the  faint  thud  of 
hoofs  behind  his  back,  that  did  not  die  down 
but  gained  in  volume  until  he  knew  that  the  pur- 
suers must  be  dangerously  near. 

"  Keep  straight  on,"  he  told  Beatriz  abruptly,  and 
stopped  short  himself. 

She  knew  that  it  would  only  hamper  him  if  she 
should  lag,  and  went  on  most  unwillingly,  but  with 
fresh  energy,  for,  if  she  were  out  of  the  way,  there 
would  be  hope  for  him.  She  heard  the  crack  of 
his  revolver  and  loud  cries. 

A  moment  later  she  fell  headlong  into  the  arms 
of  a  grey  shadow  travelling  outward  at  a  great  pace 
and  with  others  following  behind. 

"  Who's  this  ?  "  it  asked  most  anxiously,  and  she 
replied,  "Phil!  He's  back  there.  Oh!  quick — or 
you  will  be  too  late." 

Neither  had  any  thought  of  self  while  the  man  to 


206         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

whom  both  owed  so  much  was  still  in  danger.  But 
Corbyn  was  too  late,  and  that  although  he  lost  no 
single  instant.  And  there  was  a  fierce  skirmish  in 
the  dark  between  his  handful  and  the  hurried  re- 
inforcements which  had  made  the  pickets'  post 
impregnable  against  him.  But  for  the  darkness  he 
had  even  been  cut  off  from  his  own  base,  and,  as  it 
was,  he  had  to  fight  hard  to  regain  the  stairfoot. 
There  he  found  safety  in  the  end,  but,  as  he  carried 
up  the  steep  stone  steps  the  slim  boy  whose  recov- 
ery had  cost  them  such  a  comrade,  his  grey  eyes 
were  bedimmed;  and  he  held  Beatriz  very  closely 
to  him,  for  she  was  doubly  dear  now. 

Fifi  was  waiting  at  the  top.  She  took  the  inani- 
mate figure  from  his  arms  and  carried  it  away. 
Allardyce  and  O'Dare  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  night  in  proving  to  each  other  and  to  Corbyn 
that  when  fate  steps  in  human  effort  is  of  no  avail. 

"It's  just  the  narrowness  that  pinches,"  Corbyn 
concluded  sorrowfully,  as  day  broke.  "Less  than 
a  hundred  yards  we  lost  him  by,  I  reckon.  I  wish 
that  he  had  let  me  go  instead  of  him." 

A  clear,  cold  dawn  showed  that  the  plain  be- 
neath was  empty  save  for  the  customary  outposts. 
The  scant  light  strengthened,  and  the  sun  changed 
their  grey  prison  walls  to  gold.  Spirals  of  smoke 
rose  slowly  from  the  ridge,  and  the  world  woke 
about  them  without  discord. 

It  seemed  that  they  were  not  to  be  molested  yet 
a  while,  and,  since  the  hour  for  a  daylight  attack 


A   LOSING  HAZARD  207 

was  safely  past,  they  tried  to  snatch  some  sleep. 
But  none  came  to  their  aching  eyes. 

When  Beatriz  came  forth,  in  her  own  guise  again, 
she  found  the  three  seated  together  in  the  garden, 
staring  across  at  the  far  camp.  They  rose  at  the 
sound  of  her  approaching  footsteps,  and  a  faint  flush 
suffused  her  sweet  face;  she  nestled  close  to  Corbyn, 
as  he  came  forward,  took  her  hand,  and  put  an  arm 
protectingly  about  her. 

It  was  no  time  for  tender  speeches,  but  he  said 
" Sweetheart,"  very  softly — "sweetheart,  forgive 
me." 

"It  has  all  been  my  fault,  Phil,"  she  answered, 
her  tone  tremulous  as  she  looked  up  into  his  bronzed, 
haggard  face.  He  stood  there  for  a  moment,  gaz- 
ing into  her  true  eyes,  the  recollection  of  his  old 
doubt  and  distrust  a  shame  within  him.  And 
Allardyce,  he  who  had  been  disposed  to  pity  Meggs 
for  his  infatuation,  fell  a  slave  at  that  instant  to  the 
spell  of  her  compelling  loveliness,  as  had  O'Dare 
in  the  beginning. 

Corbyn  beckoned  him  forwards  and  held  out  her 
right  hand  to  him.  Allardyce  took  it  reverently, 
and,  stooping,  raised  it  to  his  lips.  No  words 
could  have  expressed  more  fully  his  pledge  of  faith- 
ful service.  Beatriz  blushed  again,  and  Corbyn 
smiled  at  the  impassive  Englishman's  courtly  be- 
haviour. 

Then  O'Dare  stepped  up  and  shook  hands  with 
her. 


208         THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"You're  safe  at  last,"  said  he,  his  voice  full  of 
grave  pleasure.  "  Fifi  and  I  have  been  heart-broken 
for  you." 

Corbyn  took  her  across  to  the  stairhead,  where 
the  men  had  their  quarters,  and  at  sight  of  her  they 
raised  a  cheer  which  rang  back  from  the  distant 
rock -face.  Her  beauty  was  a  revelation  to  them, 
and  they  found  it  cause  far  more  than  sufficient  for 
Corbyn's  expedition.  None  among  them  but  felt 
thankful  then  that  they  had  followed  him  so  far, 
no  man  but  was  confirmed  in  his  purpose  by  the 
thought  of  her  helplessness. 

And  the  thought  of  all  that  they  had  already 
braved  to  help  her,  of  their  uncomplaining  devotion 
to  their  brave  leader,  her  gallant  lover,  thrilled  her 
unspeakably.  She  thanked  them  for  their  warm 
welcome  in  broken  words,  and  then  Corbyn  led  her 
back  to  the  garden-paths,  to  straighten  out  the  tan- 
gle which  had  brought  her  and  himself  to  such 
strange  pass. 

"I  thought  you  had  forgotten  me  when  no  word 
came  from  you  after  I  landed  in  New  York,  Phil," 
she  said,  glancing  up  with  eyes  that  told  their  own 
tale. 

"I  was  at  Stephan  Florian's  funeral  that  day," 
he  answered  gravely.  "I  wrote  and  called  re- 
peatedly thereafter." 

"  Poor  Fifi ! "  Beatriz  whispered  wistfully.  "  What 
a  sad  life  hers  has  been  since  that  dreadful  duel!" 

"I  was  to  blame,  of  course,"  Corbyn  continued 


A  LOSING  HAZARD  209 

presently,  "for  believing  that  you  thought  my  pov- 
erty a  sufficient  reason  for  closing  the  door  against 
me." 

"Phil!"  she  cried  in  a  grieved  voice.  "You 
thought  that  of  me !  Oh !  how  could  you  ?  " 

He  pressed  the  hand  he  was  holding,  tenderly, 
and  had  no  excuse  to  make  for  himself.  But  she 
returned  the  pressure. 

"It  has  all  been  my  fault,"  she  asserted  again. 
"I  should  have  known  that  you  would  not  slight 
me  as — as  I  supposed  you  were  doing.  It  was  my 
own  pride  that  kept  me  from  sending  for  you  till1 
it  was  too  late — till  I  got  the  note  Joaquin  Gon- 
zalez had  fabricated  to  say  that  you  were  lying  dan- 
gerously hurt  in  that  place  where  he  made  me 
prisoner.  I  have  been  sorely  punished  for  that, 
Phil.  I  thought  I  had  lost  you  altogether  until  you 
came  thrusting  into  the  chapel  here." 

"I,  too,  have  suffered  much  because  of  my  un- 
worthy suspicions,  and  I  was  to  blame,  Beatriz, 
not  you.  Had  I  been  less  ungenerous,  Gonzalez- 
would  not  have  found  it  so  easy  as  he  did  to  cany 
out  his  infernal  plot.  How  he  must  have  congrat- 
ulated himself  on  my  simplicity!  All  he  had  to  do 
was  to  get  your  woman  to  intercept  my  letters,  and 
tell  the  hotel  people  that  I  was  to  be  turned  away 
if  I  called.  And  I  believed  blindly  that  it  was  all 
due  to  my  poverty!" 

She  said  no  more  for  a  moment.  It  hurt  her  to 
hear  his  honest  confession,  till  in  her  own  generous 
14 


210         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

heart  she  found  cure  for  that  hurt.  He  had  done 
what  he  could,  while  she  had  done  nothing— -until 
too  late. 

"Why  did  you  quarrel  with  your  father,  Phil?" 
she  asked  presently.  "I  didn't  even  know  that 
you  were  on  such  terms  with  him,  till  Pifi  told 
me." 

"  He  quarrelled  with  me,  not  I  with  him,"  replied 
Corbyn  very  regretfully.  "He — he  had  chosen  a 
wife  for  me,  sweetheart,  and  wanted  me  to  join  him 
in  his  business.  I  couldn't  see  things  his  way  in 
either  direction,  and — and  he  lost  his  tempe?." 

"That's  my  fault,  too,  then,"  said  Beatriz,  her 
eyes  suffused.  She  had  brought  this  bold  lover  of 
hers  naught  but  trouble. 

He  stopped  in  the  shadow  of  the  waterless  foun- 
tain which  had  once  formed  the  green  heart  of  the 
gardens,  and  with  the  hand  he  had  slipped  round 
her  shoulders  lifted  her  chin  so  that  he  could  look 
squarely  down  into  the  troubled  depths  under  her 
long  lashes. 

"Say  that  again,"  he  dared  her,  "and  see  what 
will  happen  to  you." 

She  smiled  mistily  up  at  him  and  opened  her  lips 
in  defiance,  but  ere  she  could  repeat  her  self-con- 
demnation he  had  found  means  to  close  them  most 
effectually.  And  in  that  brief,  blissful  moment 
they  buried  all  that  was  past.  She  flushed  rose- 
red,  and  her  eyes  were  as  twin  stars  then.  She 
lifted  two  white  hands  to  his  broad  shoulders,  and 


A  LOSING  HAZARD  211 

there  was  no  more  debt  between  them  when  Fifi 
came  to  call  them  in  to  breakfast. 

The  men-folk  fumed  and  fretted  all  forenoon  in 
forced  inaction.  It  would  have  been  sheer  mad- 
ness to  attempt  a  sortie,  and  yet  each  man  among 
them  itched  to  propose  that,  to  take  part  therein. 
But  common  sense  prevailed,  and  no  one  annoyed 
his  neighbour  by  suggesting  an  impossibility. 

Their  business  was  to  get  the  women  safely 
to  the  coast,  and  at  all  costs  they  must  attend 
to  that. 

A  sudden  idea  struck  O'Dare  and  he  communi- 
cated it  to  Corbyn,  who  jumped  at  it  with  concen- 
trated eagerness. 

"  Where  did  you  say  they  signalled  from  ? "  the 
latter  asked.  "  The  south  side  ?  Come  along. 
We'll  find  the  tackle  if  it's  anywhere  about  the 
hacienda." 

They  had  not  far  to  look,  for  under  a  loose  plank 
in  the  piazza  there,  they  discovered  all  the  helio- 
graph equipment  used  for  communicating  with 
Alta  Cruz  when  His  Excellency  happened  to  be  at 
the  hacienda. 

Corbyn  carried  the  tripod  out  and  O'Dare  the 
feather  case  containing  the  two  mirrors.  They  set 
the  apparatus  up,  sighted  it  on  the  main-guard  at 
the  ridge,  and  Corbyn,  to  whom  such  matters  were 
as  an  open  book  since  he  had  qualified  in  army  signal- 
ling, sent  an  insistent  call  across  to  the  enemy. 
Within  ten  minutes  there  came  back  an  answering 


flash,  and  he  was  soon  holding  conversation  with 
Don  Ygnacio. 

His  first  inquiry  was  as  to  Meggs.  Meggs  was 
still  alive.  He  asked  if  don  Ygnacio  would  ex- 
change him  honourably  for  Gonzalez,  but  was  in- 
formed that  he  might  hang  the  latter  out  of  hand 
himself,  and  so  save  don  Ygnacio  the  trouble.  It 
seemed  that  don  Ygnacio  was  not  pleased  with 
his  ex-spy.  "'And — as  to — the — senor — Meggs,'" 
Corbyn  read  off  mechanically,  turning  the  text  of 
the  flickering  message  into  English  for  the  benefit 
of  his  listening  men,  " '  he  will  be  shot — at — dawn — 
to-morrow.  The  rest — of — you — will  be  treated — 
likewise — when — the  time — comes ! ' " 

"We  need  waste  no  more  words  on  him,"  said 
Corbyn  curtly.  "I'll  see  whether  I  can't  call  up 
Alta  Cruz.  Sariol  might  do  something  for  us." 

Before  he  could  achieve  his  purpose  it  had  been 
forestalled,  a  message  from  the  ridge  forbidding  the 
city  to  answer  any  signals  but  those  preceded  by 
the  president's  cipher;  all  he  could  do  was  to  read 
off  the  news  that  came  thence  to  the  camp,  and,  since 
the  bulk  of  that  was  also  coded,  he  learned  little. 

Allardyce  and  O'Dare  in  turn  took  their  com- 
mander to  one  side  in  order  to  propound  to  him  a 
private  plan  whereby  each  might  take  Meggs'  place, 
or,  failing  that,  lead  a  forlorn  hope  to  his  rescue. 
It  was,  of  course,  impossible  for  Corbyn  to  coun- 
tenance such  a  suggestion,  or  he  would  have  gone 
forth  himself. 


A  LOSING  HAZARD  213 

Fortune  had  called  a  forfeit,  fixing  on  Gerald 
Meggs  to  pay  it.  That  he  would  do  so  with  a  good 
grace  no  one  doubted,  and  the  irrevocable  could  not 
be  gainsaid,  no  matter  what  it  might  cost  them  to 
look  on  inactively. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  platitudes  with  which 
he  met  their  plans,  he  himself  went  out  again  that 
night  with  a  handful  of  volunteers,  and  fought  for 
a  full  hour  the  force  which  had  been  set  about  his 
stronghold  after  dusk  for  the  precise  purpose  of 
preventing  such  an  outbreak. 

When  a  new  morning  approached,  there 
were  three  wounded  men  for  the  besieged  to  tend 
and  that  was  all  the  reward  they  had  won.  These 
were  bestowed  in  a  hastily  improvised  hospital  un- 
derground, and  then  their  comrades  gathered  at 
the  cliff -edge,  waiting  there  helpless  while  the  few 
minutes  that  held  back  dawn  ticked  swiftly  away. 

The  circle  on  the  plain  below  was  drawing  out 
of  range,  and  from  the  ridge  there  came  a  regiment 
to  reinforce  it. 

The  doomed  man's  friends  saw  clearly  through 
their  glasses  all  that  passed.  There  was  a  band, 
which  played  a  dismal  parody  of  the  Dead  March, 
and,  close  behind  it,  a  rough  coffin  on  a  cart.  After 
the  cart  there  walked  a  woman,  closely  guarded. 

Corbyn  groaned  aloud.  "  Poor  chap,  poor  chap ! " 
he  said.  "They  might  have  given  him  a  suit  of 
clothes.  What  an  inhuman  brute  Ybarra  is ! " 

The  sad  procession  halted  midway  between  the 


214         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

opposing  camps,  and  waited  there  until  the  troops 
visible  had  massed  upon  it.  They  formed  a  hollow 
square,  and  at  its  open  side  a  dozen  sappers  had 
soon  dug  a  shallow  grave.  The  woman  stepped 
toward  it  without  hesitation,  and  stood  facing  the 
firing  party  in  the  half-light,  while  an  officer  acting 
as  provost-marshal  declaimed  in  a  loud  voice  her 
crime  and  its  sentence.  Faint  echoes  of  his  speech 
reached  on  the  rare  atmosphere  to  the  hacienda. 
And  while  the  men  there  were  straining  their  ears 
in  the  effort  to  catch  a  chance  word,  they  heard  a 
cheery  voice  behind  them,  "  Gad !  but  I'm  glad  to 
see  you  all  again!" 

It  was  Meggs  himself  who  shook  their  hands 
after  they  had  got  over  their  first  fright. 

"  What's  doing  down  there  ? "  he  asked  wonder- 
ingly,  and,  even  as  he  spoke,  a  thin,  white,  strag- 
gling vapour  wreathed  the  rifles  of  the  firing  party. 
The  woman  in  front  of  them  fell  forward  on  her 
face  and  lay  there,  very  still.  A  sudden,  discordant 
crackle  sounded  jarringly  on  the  silence.  And  at 
that  moment  Beatriz  stepped  out  upon  the  piazza 
beyond  the  untidy  flower  beds,  ignorant  of  the 
tragedy  which  had  been  played  out  below. 

"  Have  you  seen  Fifi  ? "  she  called  in  her  sweet, 
clear  voice.  "I  can't  find  her  anywhere." 

But  no  one  answered.  All  the  others  were  eyeing 
Meggs,  who  was  looking  blankly  down  at  where  a 
dozen  sappers  were  shovelling  industriously. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

VON  RUDOLF'S  PROMISE 

THE  Tiger  of  San  Benito  was  at  his  wits'  end. 
He  did  not  know  where  to  turn. 

Only  an  hour  ago  he  had  escaped  by  the  skin  of 
his  teeth  from  his  own  impregnable  stronghold, 
which  was  now  held  against  him,  and  with  a  suf- 
ficient garrison,  by  the  man  he  hated  worst  in  all 
the  world.  He  knew  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  regain  possession  of  the  great  natural  fortress 
by  force  of  arms.  While  as  for  strategy  Corbyn 
had  outshone  him  at  all  points  save  one.  He  rubbed 
his  hands,  gloating  over  that,  as  he  looked  across 
the  camp-fire  at  the  white  pavilion  wherein  Beatriz 
lay  weeping.  There  was  the  prize  for  which  the 
American  and  he  were  striving.  His  one  point  was 
worth  more  than  all  the  others  put  together — if  he 
could  carry  it  through.  But  there  was  the  trouble. 

The  death  of  dom  Agustin  had  deprived  him  of 
an  ally  indispensable.  Until  he  could  replace  the 
priest  no  binding  ceremony  could  be  celebrated, 
and  he  knew  better  than  to  leave  his  cousin  any 
loophole  of  escape.  Where  there  was  property 
concerned,  and  that  in  the  United  States,  one  could 
215 


216          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

not  be  too  careful  that  the  due  legal  forms  were  all 
complied  with. 

He  planned  and  plotted,  gnawing  at  his  finger- 
nails, with  ever  and  anon  a  calculating  glance  at 
his  companion.  He  was  lying  in  his  chair,  feet 
stretched  towards  the  fire,  for  all  the  world  as  if  he 
had  been  President  of  San  Benito,  Ygnacio  Ybarra, 
the  impecunious  cavalier  of  fortune. 

Since  Von  Rudolf  was  his  right-hand  man  in 
matters  military,  he  must  still  overlook  the  Aus- 
trian's insouciance.  For  matters  military  were  in 
bad  shape  at  that  moment.  The  treasury  was 
empty,  the  troops  dissatisfied.  He  must  have 
money,  and  that  without  a  moment's  loss  of  time. 
He  had  pledged  his  word  to  the  people  that  he 
would  bring  a  wealthy  bride  back  from  the  Golden 
Horseshoe.  The  marriage  must  take  place  with- 
out delay. 

He  rose,  his  mind  made  up. 

"  I  wish  you'd  find  me  a  reliable  escort,  Karl,"  he 
said.  "I'm  going  to  ride  in  to  Alta  Cruz  and  see 
what  Sancl's  about.  He's  such  an  untrustworthy 
scoundrel — between  ourselves.  I'll  bring  a  priest 
back  with  me,  and — I  must  leave  my  cousin  in 
your  care.  It  would  be  too  unsafe  to  take  her  with 
me  to  the  capital." 

Whereat  the  soldier  scowled.  He  did  not  care 
to  stay  in  camp  while  there  was  any  chance  of  active 
movement.  He  cared  still  less  to  act  as  gaoler  to  a 
pretty  girl,  and  said  so  to  Ybarra  bluntly. 


VON  RUDOLF'S  PROMISE  217 

"She  will  not  worry  you  in  any  way,"  His  Excel- 
lency promised.  "I  shall  be  back  before  she 
speaks  to  any  one.  I — I  have  taken  precautions 
to  keep  her  quiet." 

Von  Rudolf's  scowl  became  a  sneer,  but  he  went 
out  without  more  words  to  pick  men  for  the  Presi- 
dent's safe-guarding;  and,  later,  watched  the  life- 
guards ride  away,  without  him  for  the  first  time 
since  he  had  enlisted  them. 

All  next  day  he  went  to  and  fro  in  evil  temper, 
finding  fault  with  everything.  When  night  fell 
again,  he  sat  down  alone  to  smoke  until  "Lights 
out"  should  sound 

Challoner,  hot  and  dusty,  came  in  from  La  Boca 
on  his  motor  bicycle  before  them.  He  knew  Von 
Rudolf,  as  he  knew  most  of  the  men  worth  knowing 
in  those  parts,  and  they  sat  down  together  to  dis- 
cuss events.  Had  the  correspondent  known  that 
the  chief  executive  was  in  Alta  Cruz  he  would  not 
have  come  so  far  in  search  of  him.  As  it  was,  he 
learned  what  he  could  from  his  companion,  and 
much  of  that  surprised  him. 

The  two  of  them  were  chatting  amicably  when 
an  escort  brought  in  a  woman,  come  from  the  /wz- 
cienda  to  their  outpost  and  asking  for  His  Excel- 
lency. In  her  Von  Rudolf  recognised  Beatriz 
Ybarra's  bashful  companion,  while  Challoner,  his 
face  expressionless,  but  inwardly  perturbed,  arrived 
at  an  altogether  different  conclusion  as  to  her 
identity. 


218        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

She  seemed  to  be  too  shy  to  speak,  and  stood  be- 
fore them  with  downcast  eyes,  her  face  close  hooded, 
contenting  herself  with  the  delivery  of  an  unsealed 
note  from  Corbyn  to  the  effect  that  dona  Beatrix 
would  be  the  better  of  her  companion's  company. 

Von  Rudolf  read  it,  and  directed  her  to  the  pa- 
vilion. He  was  well  pleased  to  be  relieved  of  a  re- 
sponsibility, for  Beatriz  had  been  invisible  all  day 
and  no  one  had  intruded  on  her  privacy.  His 
eyes  followed  the  cloaked  figure  as  it  disappeared 
within  the  porch. 

"D'you  know  Vienna?"  he  asked  Challoner  in- 
consequently,  and  the  correspondent  nodded. 

"I  used  to  know  a  girl  like  that  there,"  said  the 
General,  and  sighed.  It  was  so  bitter  to  recall  the 
past,  which  could  not  be  undone. 

They  separated  shortly  afterwards,  and  Challoner, 
undressing  in  the  tent  assigned  him,  whistled  shrilly 
what  he  fondly  thought  was  "The  Last  Rose  of 
Summer,"  till  an  adjacent  sentry  threatened  to 
shoot  him  if  he  didn't  stop. 

He  stopped,  and  from  the  white  pavilion  came  a 
faint  echo  of  the  tune,  which  the  sentry  did  not  over- 
hear. 

The  correspondent  chuckled  gleefully.  "Right 
again,"  he  said  to  himself.  "I  thought  I  couldn't 
have  been  mistaken.  But  he's  a  bold  young  scoun- 
drel to  thrust  himself  into  the  Tiger's  claws  like 
this.  I'll  have  to  see  whether  I  can't  lend  him  a 
hand  before  he  finds  himself  ripped  into  shreds,  as 


VON  RUDOLF'S  PROMISE  219 

he  will  be  whenever  Ybarra  appears.  I  wonder 
whether  he  twigged  me  while  he  was  standing  there 
looking  down  his  nose  like  a  school-girl;  but  he 
acted  his  part  pretty  well,  all  the  same.  If  I  hadn't 
caught  sight  of  his  feet  I'd  have  had  no  suspicions." 

He  blew  out  the  light,  having  made  such  dispo- 
sitions as  he  considered  necessary,  and,  after  peer- 
ing out,  crept  forth  from  under  the  skirt  of  the  tent 
at  the  back.  The  sentry  was  walking  his  beat, 
well  removed  from  all  chance  of  eavesdropping  on 
the  occupants  of  the  pavilion.  Challoner  waited 
till  his  back  was  turned  and  then  crawled  serpent- 
like  across  the  intervening  space,  bringing  up  in  the 
lee  of  the  larger  shelter.  Under  its  soft  white  wall 
he  thrust  a  hand  whose  fingers  held  a  calling  card. 
That  was  snatched  from  between  them,  and,  pull- 
ing a  loose  peg  or  two  out  of  the  ground,  he  slipped 
through  under  the  canvas,  coming  up  on  his  knees 
inside  to  discover  Meggs,  in  his  disguise,  regarding 
him  with  a  genial  grin. 

They  exchanged  a  hearty  hand-clasp  before  Chal- 
loner let  loose  on  that  reckless  youth  the  vials  of  his 
righteous  wrath,  which  did  not,  however,  seem  to 
disconcert  his  friend. 

"Somebody  had  to  do  something,  you  see,"  said 
Meggs  blandly  in  self-defence,  "  and  this  seemed  the 
easiest  way  to  get  here." 

"But  how  about  getting  back?"  objected  the 
other. 

"We'll  cross  that  bridge  when  we  come  to  it," 


THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 


Meggs  replied.  "  What's  the  news  outside  ?  How 
do  things  stand  now  ?  " 

Challoner  told  him  all  that  he  knew,  and  they 
had  their  plan  half  formed  before  Von  Rudolf's 
coming  forced  him  to  take  cover  under  the  tiger-skin 
rug  on  the  floor  at  the  back  of  the  rocking-chair, 
and  made  that  plan  so  much  more  simple. 

The  General  had  grown  restless,  his  brain  was 
busy  with  a  train  of  thoughts  which  hurt,  and  he 
had  at  last  resolved  to  seek  speech  with  the  girl  who 
was  so  like  one  he  had  used  to  know  in  Vienna. 
He  could  not  believe  that  it  was  she,  and  yet  the 
resemblance  had  struck  him  repeatedly  since  he 
had  seen  Fifi  first  at  La  Boca.  He  would  ask  her 
outright,  and  so  salve  his  unrest. 

He  was  told  to  return,  and  did  so,  only  to  fall 
unsuspectingly  into  the  trap  the  two  men  had  laid 
for  him  in  the  interval.  And  all  would  have  gone 
well  with  their  scheme  but  for  Ybarra's  over-early 
arrival  from  Alta  Cruz. 

His  Excellency  had  enjoyed  a  very  stormy  inter- 
view with  the  Vice-President,  and  was  all  eagerness 
to  share  the  city  news  with  the  young  soldier.  And 
he  had  brought  a  priest  with  him,  what  he  had 
heard  having  proven  the  urgent  need  of  haste  in 
matters  both  matrimonial  and  financial. 

Terrible,  therefore,  was  his  wrath  when  he  dis- 
covered that  which  had  befallen.  He  raved  and 
raged,  gnashing  his  teeth  with  that  insane  abandon 
which  had  won  for  him  the  soubriquet  he  was  so 


VON  RUDOLF'S  PROMISE  221 

proud  of.  If  there  had  been  the  slightest  chance  of 
finding  an  efficient  substitute  for  Karl  Von  Rudolf, 
he  would  have  had  that  innocent  wrong-doer  shot 
instanter.  And  as  for  Challoner,  very  wide  awake 
behind  his  heavy  eyelids  and  with  a  story  of  vio- 
lent outrage  on  his  liberty  to  tell,  there  were  no 
threats  severe  enough.  Him  they  unbound  and 
banished  back  to  Alta  Cruz  on  his  bicycle,  without 
a  moment's  grace.  Then  Meggs  was  brought  in 
captive,  and  placed  in  close  confinement  until  the 
Austrian  should  have  recovered  from  the  influence 
of  the  opiate. 

When  Karl  Von  Rudolf  came  to  himself,  he  dared 
who  would  to  twit  him  with  the  mischance  he  had 
suffered.  That  he  was  bitterly  ashamed  of  it  went 
without  saying,  but  even  Ybarra  thought  it  better 
to  postpone  the  reprimand  he  merited  until  he 
should  have  achieved  a  more  meek  and  chastened 
mood.  Meantime  a  hasty  field -court  was  convened 
and  a  mock  trial  took  place.  Von  Rudolf  bore  no 
personal  ill-will  towards  the  prisoner  for  the  auda- 
cious part  he  had  played,  but  confirmed  with  a  feel- 
ing of  relief  the  finding  which  sentenced  him  to  be 
shot  next  morning.  It  would  be  just  as  convenient 
to  have  him  out  of  the  way  for  the  future.  Dead 
men  tell  no  ridiculous  tales. 

His  Excellency  countersigned  the  death-warrant 
without  a  word,  and  then  turned  his  back  on  the 
General.  They  two  were  on  the  worst  of  terms  for 
the  time  being.  And  while  Ybarra  was  holding 


222          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

communication  with  Corbyn  by  heliograph,  Von 
Rudolf  sought  his  tent,  and  stayed  there  waiting 
for  the  wind  to  change. 

The  day  passed  drearily  enough  for  him,  and  he 
was  not  in  any  pleasant  temper  when,  soon  after 
nightfall,  he  saw  a  guard  once  more  bringing  to- 
wards his  tent  the  cause  of  all  his  tribulation. 

He  sprang  to  his  feet  in  anger  and  flushed  up 
furiously,  believing  it  to  be  some  ingenious  device 
of  Ybarra's  to  put  him  to  further  shame. 

But  as  the  prisoner  came  to  a  halt  before  him, 
and  stood  there  trembling,  unable  to  articulate,  a 
sudden  flash  of  recollection  flitted  across  his  mind, 
stemming  the  outflow  of  the  hot  rage  in  his  heart. 
For  this  was  still  more  like  the  girl  he  had  known. 
It  was  the  girl  herself. 

He  set  a  seat  for  her.  She  took  it  thankfully,  and, 
after  he  had  dismissed  her  escort  with  orders  that 
they  and  their  comrades  on  outpost  should  keep 
the  strictest  silence  as  to  her  entry,  stepped  aside 
so  that  the  light  from  the  fire  without  should  fall  on 
her  face. 

Then  he  shut  his  eyes  to  hide  the  hurt  they 
showed  at  sight  of  her.  Long  years  had  passed 
since  he  had  looked  his  last  on  the  Hofburg,  and 
she  had  changed,  as  a  maid  will,  since  they  had 
paced  its  corridors  together,  but  he  knew  now. 
And  she  had  known  since  the  day  on  which  he  had 
ushered  her  through  the  palace  at  Alta  Cruz. 

He  set  his  heels  together  with  a  click  of  spurs  and 


VON  RUDOLF'S   PROMISE  223 

squared  his  shoulders:  as  he  had  been  wont  to  do- 
in  that  past  which  was  weighing  so  heavily  on  them 
both.  A  very  handsome  fellow  he  was  as  he  stood 
there  in  uniform,  the  firelight  flickering  on  steel  and 
gold. 

"  In  what  can  a  Von  Rudolf  serve  mademoiselle  ?"" 
he  asked  with  careful  courtesy,  in  formal  French. 

"I — I  had  hoped  to  find  a  friend  here,  Karl," 
she  said,  her  tone  so  wistful  that  he  winced;  and 
all  his  stiffness  vanished. 

"Fifi,"  he  whispered  pleadingly,  on  an  over- 
whelming impulse,  "  will  you  believe  me  if  I  tell  you 
that  the  fight  was  fair?  God  knows  I  did  not 

mean  to  kill  Gustav What  hope  would  there 

have  been  of  winning  you  across  your  brother's 
grave  ? — but  he  pressed  hard  upon  my  point  and  his 
foot  slipped  so  that  it  pierced  him  to  the  heart. 

"I  would  it  had  been  I  who " 

She  held  a  hand  up  and  so  silenced  him.  "  Gus- 
tav will  share  the  blame  when  he  and  you  cast  count 
together,  Karl,"  she  promised  for  the  dead  man. 
"I  know  the  fight  was  fair — since  it  fell  between 
you  and  him.  But  oh!  the  pity  of  it."  A  sudden 
sobbing  shook  her,  and  he  turned  away  his  head, 
not  knowing  how  he,  her  brother's  murderer,  might 
comfort  her.  Life  had  gone  very  hard  with  both 
of  them  since  that  dark  day  when  Gustav  Florian 
had  died  at  his  hands  beside  the  Danube. 

"Is  Stephan  with  you?"  he  asked,  as  she  dried 
her  eyes,  and  fresh  tears  gathered  while  she  an- 


224         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

swered,  "  Stephan  died  in  New  York  not  many  days 
ago.  My  poor  Stephan!  We  suffered  much  to- 
gether, he  and  I.  He  broke  his  heart  in  exile,  and 
— and  now  I  am  the  only  Florian  left. 

"  What  of  yourself,  Karl  ?  " 

He  shook  his  head,  and  sighed.  "  I'm  finished," 
he  said  simply,  "and  with  me  the  Von  Rudolf  line. 
It  is  best  so. 

"Forget  me,  Fifi,  and — forgive  me,  if  you  can. 
My  life  is  one  long  punishment. 

"Now  you  must  go.  I'll  see  you  through  the 
lines  somehow,  and — don't  come  back.  Even  with 
me  you  are  in  gravest  danger.  I  can't  imagine  how 
you  got  here  safely — or  why  you  came." 

"I  had  no  difficulty,"  she  said  simply.  "The 
American  sentries  at  the  stair  had  no  authority  to 
stop  me,  and  I  came  by  the  roadway  to  where  your 
men  were  stationed.  I  know  no  Spanish,  but  when 
I  spoke  your  name  they  seemed  to  understand. 
They  were  most  courteous.  You  have  much  power 
among  these  people,  Karl." 

"I  am  commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  of  San 
Benito,"  he  answered  gravely. 

"  I  came  to  ask  a  favour  of  you,"  she  continued, 
and  for  a  moment  he  looked  happier.  Then  his 
brows  bent  again,  as  he  remembered  that  a  man 
must  die  at  dawn,  and  for  the  cause  which  claimed 
her  also. 

"  Fate  has  bereft  me  of  all  save  my  honour,"  he 
said  slowly.  "Must  I  sell  that  as  well  to  pay  in 


VON  RUDOLF'S   PROMISE  225 

part  the  debt  I  owe  you  ?  Is  there  no  other 
way?" 

She  saw  that  he  was  not  addressing  her  and  re- 
mained silent  until  his  frown  passed.  But  her  heart 
sank,  for  how  could  she  ask  him  now  to  set  the 
prisoner  free. 

"If  I  could  see  the  President,"  she  urged,  "per- 
haps  " 

"  It  would  not  be  for  good,"  he  assured  her  ear- 
nestly. "  His  Excellency  is  inflamed  against  your 
friends,  and — I  am  his  servant." 

He  communed  with  himself  again,  and  suddenly 
his  eyes  lit  up,  his  face  cleared.  He  had  seen  sud- 
denly how  he  might  earn  acquittance  for  the  deed 
which  had  sundered  them  two  for  all  time. 

"In  spite  of  that,"  he  said  in  a  glad  voice,  "I 
think — yes,  I  can  promise  you  the  service  you 
require  of  me." 

"  That  Mr.  Meggs  will  not  be — not  be— shot  ?  " 

"No,  he  will  not  be  shot.  I  promise  that.  Now 
come  with  me." 

That  night  there  was  much  traffic  to  and  fro  be- 
tween the  pickets,  and  the  cordon  about  the  besieged 
was  drawn  closer  each  time  that  Von  Rudolf  went 
the  round,  as  he  did  at  frequent  intervals.  A  sortie 
from  the  stairfoot  was  repulsed  after  hard  fighting, 
and  then  the  garrison  seemed  satisfied  that  it  was 
hemmed  in  too  effectually  to  have  any  hope  of 
breaking  through. 

His  Excellency  had  decreed  that  Meggs  should 
15 


226         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

suffer  the  last  penalty  in  the  disguise  with  which  he 
had  tricked  the  guileless  General,  and  just  before 
daybreak  Von  Rudolf  strode  back  from  the  stable 
buildings  beneath  the  hacienda  to  the  camp  on  the 
ridge  to  see  that  all  was  ready  and  at«ording  to  the 
instructions  promulgated.  His  orderly  was  with 
him. 

He  passed  into  the  guard-tent,  sent  the  two  ward- 
ers there  on  watch  away,  and  sat  down  beside  Meggs. 

Those  outside  could  hear  him  conversing  quietly 
with  their  prisoner  for  a  few  minutes,  ere  Le  called 
the  guard  in  again,  and  once  more  went  afield 
through  the  night,  in  the  direction  of  the  hacienda. 
But  with  themselves  the  condemned  would  exchange 
no  word. 

Ybarra  was  astir  betimes  and  one  of  Von  Rudolfs 
underlings  had  charge  of  the  parade  which  formed 
up  in  the  dark  and  started  for  the  scene  of  execu- 
tion in  good  time  to  reach  it  with  the  dawn.  The 
President  intended  to  impress  the  foreigners  on 
watch  above  with  the  exactitude  of  justice  as  ad- 
ministered by  himself:  and  to  express  his  displeas- 
ure with  Von  Rudolf  by  the  appointment  of  a  sub- 
ordinate to  the  stage-management  of  the  display. 

The  man  in  woman's  clothes  and  a  long  cloak 
who  walked,  in  the  dim  light,  beside  the  cart  which 
held  the  coffin  needed  no  help  on  that  last  stage  of 
his  earthly  journey.  The  black  and  yellow  men  of 
the  battalions  rolled  their  eyes  and  nudged  each 
other  as  they  watched  him.  They  were  no  cowards 


VON  RUDOLF'S  PROMISE  227 

in  so  far  as  fearing  death  went,  and  could  appreci- 
ate cool  courage. 

The  square  was  formed  and  one  side  opened  out 
to  let  the  bullets  through.  The  sappers  did  their 
hasty  work  with  pick  and  shovel,  the  firing-party 
took  position  as  their  target  of  his  own  accord  passed 
to  the  place  appointed  for  him. 

The  priest  performed  his  part,  they  theirs,  and 
then  the  body  was  consigned  to  an  unconsecrated 
grave. 

And,  from  the  cliff  above,  a  bugler  sounded  the 
Last  Post,  to  mark  a  comrade's  passing. 


CHAPTER   XV 

THE   BOTTOMLESS   PIT 

"WHERE'S  Fifi,"  Meggs  repeated  stupidly. 
"  She's  in  the  chapel.  Von  Rudolf  had  her  hidden 
in  the  stables — she  had  been  to  his  camp  to  plead 
for  me — he  helped  me  to  escape  in  his  own  uniform 
— I  brought  her  through  the  tunnel  with  me,  and 
his  orderly — an  Austrian — came  with  us. 

"But  they've  shot  some  one  in  my  place.  Who 
was  it  ?  " 

Fifi  came  forth  from  where  she  had  been  praying, 
and  with  her  was  Von  Rudolf's  servant. 

He  looked  up  at  the  sun,  showing  above  the 
Horseshoe  rim,  and  down  to  where  the  sappers  were 
still  shovelling. 

"My  master,  Count  Von  Rudolf,  sent  me  here," 
he  said,  with  military  brevity,  and  most  respect- 
fully, "to  say  that  he  has  kept  his  promise  to  the 
Fraulein  Florian,  and  will  have  no  more  need  of 
me.  I  am  to  hold  myself  at  her  disposal." 

Meggs  turned  with  twitching  lips  and  laid  a  hand 
on  Corbyn's  arm. 

"Von    Rudolf  took    my  place,  then,"  he    said 

brokenly.     "If  I  had God!    If    I  had  only 

known  in  time!" 

228 


THE  BOTTOMLESS  PIT  229 

Fifi  had  heard  the  message,  seen  the  messenger's 
mute  gesture,  and  she  also  understood.  A  hope- 
less horror  of  the  web  of  fate  struck  at  her  heart. 
Hot  tears  rose  to  her  eyes.  And  Beatriz  Ybarra 
also  fell  a-weeping  as  she  heard  how  a  gallant  gen- 
tleman had  paid  the  price  of  honour,  settling  the 
debit  of  an  accidental  death  with  his  own  life. 

They  went  away  together  to  the  altar.  And  Von 
Rudolf's  restless  soul  was  surely  none  the  worse  of 
their  pure  prayers. 

The  next  news  from  the  ridge  came  in  the  shape 
of  a  plugged  shell  which  whistled  past  the  watchers 
on  the  cliff  and  struck  the  main  tower  of  the 
hacienda. 

Corbyn  looked  round  at  the  cloud  of  falling  plas- 
ter, and  caught  Allardyce's  eye. 

"That  was  a  good  shot,"  he  said  coolly,  glad  to 
be  thus  recalled  from  his  mournful  self -communing. 
"His  Excellency's  gunners  have  improved  since  I 
last  saw  their  practice." 

"I  know  who  fired  it,"  O'Dare  broke  in.  "He 
has  a  German  snake  called  Schweitzer  in  his  em- 
ployment, who  was  on  board  the  Mariposa  with  us; 
a  perfect  marvel  with  explosives  of  all  sorts.  Yes, 
it  was  he  who  sank  the  Hilario  ;  it  took  a  second 
shot,  because  I  spoiled  his  first  for  him." 

"They  can't  do  us  much  harm,"  said  Corbyn, 
"and  if  they  blow  the  buildings  about  too  much 
we've  bomb-proof  shelter  for  an  army  underground." 

"But  we  don't  want  to  stay  here  all  our  lives," 


230         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

objected  Allardyce,  "and  I  can  see  no  way  out 
while  they  want  to  keep  us  in. 

"It's  like  Gibraltar  in  a  great  cock -pit;  safe 
enough,  but  sure  to  become  monotonous." 

A  second  shell  with  the  plug  drawn  bit  viciously 
at  the  bare  rock  beneath  them.  The  air  was  filled 
with  fragments  of  flying  metal,  splinters  of  stone. 
But  these  fell  back  into  space. 

"Six  feet  too  low,"  Corbyn  remarked  critically, 
"and  just  as  well  for  us  that  it  was.  We'll  dig  a 
shelter-trench  for  the  lookout  to-night;  and  mean- 
time we'll  take  cover.  They've  spotted  us,  and,  if 
friend  Schweitzer  drops  a  calling-card  in  our  midst, 
there  will  be  trouble." 

They  scattered  and  crept  by  circuitous  routes  into 
the  chapel  stairway,  which  wras  roofed  in  by  solid 
rock,  where  they  swore  in  their  new  recruit,  Von 
Rudolf's  man,  and,  having  assigned  him  to  safe 
duty,  held  anxious  consultation  as  to  their  next  move. 

"  We  have  a  fighting  force  of  twenty-two  all  told," 
said  Corbyn,  "including  him;  three  wounded  men; 
two  women.  Our  food  supply  is  very  scanty,  and 
there  seems  small  hope  of  increasing  it.  Water  is 
plentiful,  but — we  can't  live  long  on  that  alone. 

"We  can't  afford  to  make  a  dash  for  liberty  lest 
we  should  lose  all  we  have  gained  so  far,  and,  fur- 
thermore, we  have  no  means  of  transportation. 

"In  short — we  can't  stay  here,  and  neither  can 
we  get  away. 

"  Who  can  suggest  a  remedy  ?  " 


THE  BOTTOMLESS   PIT  231 

For  some  time  no  one  spoke;  then  Allardyce  had 
an  inspiration  and  expressed  it  eagerly. 

"There's  not  much  chance  for  us  outside/'  he 
agreed.  "  Why  not  try  inside ! 

"The  tunnel  to  the  stable's  very  simple  now  we 
know  it,  and — there  may  be  other " 

"  You're  thinking  of  that  horrible  hole  we  skirted 
on  our  way  up,"  Meggs  interrupted,  and  the  other 
nodded. 

"And  of  the  water-gate  through  the  ridge,"  he 
continued.  "The  country  around  here's  all  vol- 
canic; a  crack  or  crevice  may  lead  anywhere — or 
nowhere. 

"  It's  worth  while  rooting  about  below." 

"Let's  have  Gonzalez  in,"  suggested  Meggs, 
"and  put  him  through  the  third  degree  about  the 
Golden  Horseshoe.  I'll  bet  he  knows  all  the  back- 
doors there  are. 

"But  let  me  tell  you  one  thing:  the  water-gate's 
well  guarded  now.  They  must  have  found  your 
horses,  too.  While  I  was  in  their  hands  I  saw  them 
working  at  a  fresh  entrenchment  on  the  ridge  above 
the  reservoir,  just  where  the  stream  runs  through." 

A  muffled  crash  told  them  that  the  bombardment 
was  still  going  forward,  but  they  were  not  con- 
cerned as  to  the  damage  being  done  Ybarra's  prop- 
erty, and  all  their  men  were  safely  bestowed.  Cor- 
byn  and  Allardyce  crossed  to  the  stairway,  where 
their  main-guard  had  its  quarters  and  brought 
Gonzalez  back  with  them. 


232         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

The  spy  was  very  servile  now  and  could  not  do 
enough  for  them.  The  fear  that  they  would  turn 
him  over  to  the  Tiger  was  ever  before  his  eyes,  and 
he  was  voluble  in  his  assurances  that  he  would  tell 
them  every  secret  of  the  underground. 

But  all  that  he  could  tell  them  proved  of  little 
practical  assistance.  The  tunnel  was  the  only 
secret  exit  from  the  hacienda,  and  he  had  never  heard 
of  any  attempt  to  plumb  the  abyss  therein. 

"  We'll  let  you  down  in  a  rope  if  you'd  like  to  try 
it,"  Allardyce  said  laughingly,  but  to  the  traitor 
there  was  no  jest  in  the  idea,  and  his  knees  knocked 
under  him  while  he  was  begging  that  they  would 
not  thus  torture  him. 

"It  is  the  open  door  of  hell,"  he  whispered  with 
pale  lips.  "Many  have  passed  within,  but  none 
come  out  again.  And  sometimes  there  is  heat,  and 
smoke,  and  voices  crying — even  His  Excellency  was 
afraid " 

Corbyn  smiled  at  the  ingenuous  implication,  and 
they  got  rid  of  Gonzalez. 

"  How  are  we  off  for  rope  ?  "  he  asked,  and  O'Dare, 
upon  whom  had  devolved  a  quartermaster's  duties, 
answered,  "  Hundreds  of  yards.  One  of  the  barns 
behind  is  stocked  like  a  sailmaker's  shop. 

"  Let's  have  a  shot  at  the  bottle,  Corbyn.  What 
do  you  say  ?  I  claim  first  shy." 

"Some  of  us  must  stay  here,  and — I  don't  know. 
Well,  there's  no  harm  in  trying;  but  be  very  cau- 
tious. 


233 


"  Take  men  enough  to  pull  you  up  again.  Meggs 
may  go  with  you  to  take  charge  of  them.  You'd 
better  stay  with  me,  Allardyce,  and — there's  another 
shell.  We  must  be  watchful  lest  they  should  attack 
us  unawares." 

Allardyce  was  disappointed,  in  that  the  idea  had 
occurred  to  him  and  he  had  intended  to  volunteer 
for  the  trial  trip.  But  he  kept  silence  and  the  other 
two  went  off  with  all  celerity  to  carry  out  their 
purpose. 

They  levied  on  the  barn  of  which  O'Dare  had 
spoken  for  sufficient  rope  to  reach  below  ground 
level  from  the  height  of  the  hacienda,  enlisted  from 
among  the  men  a  sufficient  number  of  sympathizers, 
took  with  them  lamps  and  candles,  and  passed 
down  the  tunnel  to  the  bottle-mouth. 

"We'll  cross  and  work  it  from  the  other  side," 
said  Meggs,  looking  distastefully  into  the  ominous 
opening. 

"  We'll  have  more  purchase  for  a  long  pull  on  the 
down-grade.  But  first  I'll  send  a  scout  down  ahead 
of  you  to  find  out  if  there's  any  foul  air  below." 

He  lowered  a  lighted  candle  set  in  a  triangle  of 
wire  at  the  end  of  a  thin  cord  and  paid  out  all  there 
was  in  the  hank  he  held,  while  O'Dare,  peering  after 
it  from  the  edge  of  the  gallery,  reported  its  progress. 

"Yes,  it's  still  burning,"  he  remarked,  when 
Meggs  had  reached  the  end  of  his  long  line  and 
drawn  the  light  up  again.  "The  atmosphere's  all 
right,  but — it  must  be  a  devil  of  a  depth." 


234        THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

"I'll  let  the  whole  thing  drop,"  responded  the 
other.  "The  sound  should  be  audible,  I  think." 

He  let  the  line  go,  and  O'Dare  listened  most  in- 
tently, but  no  echo  whatsoever  came  up  to  him. 

He  screwed  up  his  nose  and  clapped  his  hands 
together. 

"It's  eerie,  isn't  it!"  he  said.  "Come  on  across 
and  help  me  tie  myself  in  a  safe  knot." 

Meggs  would  fain  have  urged  him  not  to  go 
further  in  the  matter,  but  knew  better  than  to  con- 
firm him  in  his  resolution  by  doing  so.  However, 
he  reserved  in  his  own  mind  the  right  to  pull  him 
up  when  he  thought  proper. 

And  presently  O'Dare  slipped  gently  over  the 
lower  lip  in  a  reclining  posture,  securely  fastened 
to  the  rope  that  Meggs  and  his  assistants  were 
slowly  paying  out.  With  him  he  had  a  lamp  and 
in  his  pockets  plentiful  candles.  A  signal  line  was 
made  fast  to  the  rope  at  a  point  well  within  his 
reach. 

"Yes,  I'm  safely  over,"  he  called  back  to  them. 
"The  edge  is  smooth  as  ice — there's  no  fear  of  the 
rope  fraying.  Lower  away  now  till  I  signal  Stop, 
and,  Jerry!  Don't  pull  me  up  before  I'm  ready." 

They  paid  out  foot  by  foot  the  long  coil  they  had 
laid  out  on  the  steps  behind  them,  and  with  each 
went  an  equal  length  of  signal  line.  Meggs  kept 
his  hand  on  that,  and  when,  after  what  seemed  an 
endless  interval,  no  sign  came  from  below,  he  made 
his  crew  hold  fast. 


THE   BOTTOMLESS  PIT  235 

They  did  so;  three  strong  tugs  brought  the  com- 
mand "Lower  away."  Unwillingly  did  Meggs 
comply,  and,  when  they  had  to  stop  to  splice  a  fresh 
length  to  the  depleted  coil,  the  three  tugs  thrice  re- 
peated showed  how  impatient  to  proceed  was  the 
explorer. 

"Confound  him!"  Meggs  snapped,  his  mind 
divided  between  annoyance  and  anxiety.  "If  he's 
not  satisfied  with  fifty  or  a  hundred  feet  more  we'll 
yank  him  up  out  of  that." 

But,  notwithstanding,  he  had  allowed  the  limit  to 
pass  before  from  out  of  the  depths  a  single  pull  said 
"Stop." 

Corbyn  and  Allardyce  had  not  been  idle  while 
the  other  two  were  busy.  They  timed  the  shells 
and  found  that  they  were  arriving  at  fairly  regular 
intervals  of  five  minutes.  Waiting  till  one  had 
fallen  and  exploded  they  reached  the  open  air,  and 
set  out  on  a  tour  of  inspection. 

At  the  stairway  all  was  well.  The  men  within 
the  solid  walls  at  top  were  sitting  under  shelter, 
passing  the  time  at  cards  with  cartridges  for  cur- 
rency. There  was  no  superfluity  of  ammunition 
among  them  now.  An  extra  round  might  well 
mean  life  itself  ere  they  were  through.  Which  added 
zest  to  the  uncertainty  of  euchre. 

At  the  loopholes  on  ground-level  the  lookouts 
were  alert,  but  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  on  the 
wide  expanse  before  them,  and  on  either  hand  the 
plain  lay  empty  till  the  sheer,  shoe-shaped  rock,  face 


236         THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

shut  it  in.  Round  the  circular  curve  of  their  great 
natural  fortress  they  could  not  of  course  see,  but 
even  although  the  huts  and  barns  and  houses  there 
had  been  alive  with  men  it  would  not  have  dis- 
turbed their  equanimity. 

They  clambered  up  the  winding  stair  again,  and, 
always  watchful  for  the  shrieking  missiles  which 
came  hurtling  out  of  space  with  such  monotonous 
attachment  to  a  set  time,  passed  through  the  wrecked 
rooms  underneath  the  brick  and  plaster  tower, 
reaching  the  outhouses  behind  without  mischance. 

There  they  found  much  to  interest  them  among 
the  medley  of  pseudo-scientific  playthings  with 
which,  it  appeared,  Ybarra  had  been  wont  to  amuse 
himself  during  his  frequent  sojourns  at  the  hacienda. 
There  was  a  great  profusion  of  ill-kept  chemical 
apparatus,  broken  machinery,  drawings,  models,  of 
every  modern  ambition  from  air-ships  to  armoured 
motor-cars  and  quick-firing  cannon. 

AUardyce  poked  and  pried  among  them,  noting 
everything  that  might  serve  any  practical  purpose, 
and  one  of  his  finds  called  forth  an  exclamation  of 
satisfaction  so  fervent  that  Corbyn,  who  had  been 
frowning  perplexedly  over  the  scantlings  of  a  minia- 
ture flying -machine,  jumped  round  to  see  what  had 
happened.  The  Englishman  was  stooping  over  a 
stack  of  strangely  shaped  cylinders  which  occupied 
one  corner  of  the  adjoining  chamber.  He  rose  as 
his  friend  came  forward,  and  "Corbyn,  old  chap," 
said  he,  "this  looks  like  the  left  bower  to  me. 


THE  BOTTOMLESS   PIT  237 

Ybarra's  kept  two  or  three  good  cards  up  his 
sleeve." 

Corbyn  looked  carefully,  first  at  the  cylinders, 
then  at  the  corner  opposite,  and  jotted  some  figures 
down  in  his  note-book  as  Allardyce  had  already  done. 

"  It  would  be  a  deadly  risk,"  he  muttered  reflect- 
ively, "but — we'll  see,  Allardyce.  I  wish  we  had 
a  flying-machine  like  that  model  in  there." 

"  If  we  had  the  Tiger  would  have  good  cause  to 
grit  his  teeth,"  answered  the  Englishman. 

They  resumed  their  perquisition,  ransacking 
every  nook  before  they  were  satisfied.  And  after 
that  they  made  a  tour  of  inspection  round  the  rim 
of  their  plateau,  peering  down  from  convenient 
points  on  the  buildings  underneath  the  overhanging 
ledge  at  the  back,  talking  over  their  find.  They 
finished  at  the  garden-front,  where  they  found  their 
troop-sergeant  stretched  at  his  ease  in  the  long 
grass,  audibly  cursing  the  contrariety  of  the  dice 
with  which  he  had  been  diverting  himself  since  he 
had  lost  interest  in  Schweitzer's  gun-play. 

Allardyce  sat  down  beside  him,  and  Corbyn  went 
back  to  headquarters  on  the  chapel-stairs,  there  to 
make  endless  calculations  on  the  basis  of  the  ciphers 
in  his  note-book.  He  finished,  and,  as  he  leaned 
back,  tapping  his  teeth  with  his  pencil  in  cogitation, 
his  forehead  wrinkled,  he  heard  the  two  girls  come 
down  the  aisle  within  from  the  altar.  A  sudden 
inspiration  came  to  him,  and,  as  he  pulled  the  door 
open  for  them,  his  face  was  radiant. 


«38         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

"  Can  you  sew,  Beatriz  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Fifi,  are 
you  any  sort  of  needlewoman  ?  " 

They  smiled,  somewhat  surprisedly,  and  an- 
swered that  they  would  most  willingly  display  such 
skill  in  that  capacity  as  they  possessed. 

"  I'll  make  a  contract  with  you,  then,"  he  sug- 
gested jocularly,  "at  a  fair  price  per  foot.  Time 
is  our  money,  and  I'll  shorten  your  imprisonment 
here  by  half  an  hour  for  each  inch  you  turn  out. 

*  Wait  till  the  next  shell  strikes  and  I'll  show  you 
what's  to  do." 

Allardyce  focussed  his  field-glasses  on  the  ridge, 
and,  for  a  time,  sat  silent,  watching  the  group  about 
the  gun,  which  he  was  able  to  locate  the  first  time 
that  the  flash  of  smokeless  powder  announced  the 
despatch  of  another  shell.  He  saw  the  gun-squad 
sponging  out,  and,  after  they  had  reloaded,  they 
crossed  to  another  piece,  which  presently  belched 
flame.  Four  more  were  fired,  and  then  the  first 
again. 

"  They've  a  complete  field-battery  trained  on  us," 
he  remarked  to  McGuire,  "and  they've  got  the 
range  to  a  nicety.  When  the  time  comes  they'll  let 
us  have  it  hot  and  strong." 

"Faith,  thin,  I've  always  liked  it  best  that  way!" 
replied  the* Irishman,  a  twinkle  in  his  eyes,  "whether 
'twas  soup  or  shindy  or  potheen.     It's  thirsty  work 
this  waiting,  Misther  Allardyce." 

"I  don't  think  we'll  have  long  to  wait  now,'r 
Allardyce  returned.  "They're  forming  their  men 


THE   BOTTOMLESS   PIT 


up  —  a  full  parade,  both  horse  and  foot.  Yes,  we'll 
see  something  doing  shortly." 

He  kept  his  eyes  glued  to  the  glasses,  and  McGuire 
gave  up  his  game  of  matching  right  hand  against 
left  to  stare  through  the  hot  sunshine  at  the  ridge. 

"I  wish  you'd  see  if  you  can  find  the  Captain," 
Allardyce  said  at  length.  "Tell  him  the  other 
camp  is  all  astir,  and  that  I  think  they  mean  to 
march  this  way.  I'll  wait  here  till  you  get  back." 

McGuire  saluted  with  precision  and  went  on  his 
errand  in  great  glee.  He  signalled  to  the  stairhead 
as  he  passed  that  they  might  presently  find  more 
exciting  occupation  than  the  dealing  of  cold  decks, 
while  Allardyce,  on  watch,  observed  the  start  of 
the  advance  he  had  anticipated,  and  all  the  time 
Schweitzer's  slow  minute-guns  maintained  their 
service. 

A  company  marched  out  of  camp  and  halted  on 
the  plain.  Another  followed  it,  and  drew  up  at 
some  distance  to  the  rear. 

The  Englishman  gave  vent  to  a  disgusted  grunt 
as  he  saw  what  came  next  —  a  battery  of  guns,  but 
horsed  and  manned;  which  showed  that  there  were 
two  of  them  at  least  at  the  besiegers'  disposal. 
With  them  there  were  two  troops  of  cavalry,  and 
close  behind  another  company  of  foot. 

That  column  started  on  the  war-path  and  a  fresh 
one  formed  on  its  ground. 

"Three  complete  batteries!'*  commented  Allar- 
dyce. "A  thousand  men  to  wipe  out  twenty-one? 


240          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

My  sainted  aunt!  but  they're  a  bold  lot  in  San 
Benito.  Where's  Corbyn  ?  I  wish  McGuire  would 
get  a  move  on." 

The  supporting  column  followed  the  advance, 
and,  in  its  place,  appeared  a  third  and  last,  which, 
at  due  intervals,  came  on  in  rear. 

"They  think  they're  going  to  scare  us  stiff,"  the 
watcher  whispered  to  himself,  "with  fifteen  hun- 
dred men.  I  don't  think  any  one  could  ask  a  pret- 
tier proposition.  Things  will  be  far  from  peaceful 
presently. 

"  What's  that,  McGuire  ?  " 

"There's  something  wrong  in  the  tunnel,  sor," 
that  breathless  messenger  repeated,  "and  Captain 
Corbyn  has  gone  down  to  see  about  it. 

"  He'll  be  with  you  immejitly." 

Allardyce  rose  and  ran,  under  an  urgent  impulse 
to  discover  for  himself  whether  or  no  O'Dare  was 
safe,  but  duty  still  more  urgent  plucked  at  his 
shoulder,  turning  his  face  toward  the  main-guard, 
where  the  brunt  of  any  onfall  must  be  borne. 

The  men  there  had  their  rifles  ready  and  looked 
up  with  eager  eyes  as  he  appeared. 

"  Yes,  they'll  be  at  us  soon,"  he  said  in  answer  to 
their  inquiries.  "Whenever  you  see  Captain  Cor- 
byn tell  him  I'm  with  the  quarter-guard  below." 

He  hurried  through  them,  down  the  interminable 
steps,  to  where  the  four  men  at  the  stairfoot  were 
peering  out  at  the  approaching  army.  Its  leading 
column  came  on  stolidly  to  well  within  short  rifle- 


THE  BOTTOMLESS   PIT  241 

range,  and  then  he  sent  a  single  warning  shot  towards 
them. 

They  halted,  and  took  open  order,  but  with  in- 
different slowness.  Their  battery  unlimbered  and 
the  guns  were  laid.  One  shell,  placed  properly, 
must  have  made  the  stairfoot  a  shambles. 

But  the  time  was  not  yet. 

The  second  and  third  columns  had  disappeared 
behind  the  hacienda  ere  a  bugle  sounded  from  in 
front  of  Allardyce's  post,  and  there  rode  forward 
one  who  carried  a  long  lance  with  a  white  flag  atop. 
Another  cantered  at  his  heels,  without  arms. 

They  came  on  fearlessly  and  Allardyce  went  out 
to  meet  them,  saluting  courteously  as  Ygnacio 
Ybarra  drew  rein. 

"I  wish  to  speak  with  Corbyn,  the  American,'* 
the  President  began  abruptly.  "Send  word  to  him 
that " 

"I  represent  him  here,  senor,"  answered  the 
younger  man. 

Ybarra  looked  down  at  him  from  under  lowering 
brows.  "You  will  have  learned  to  obey  me  with- 
out question  before  long,"  he  said,  and  his  tone 
was  very  menacing.  But  the  implied  threat  did 
not  seem  to  disconcert  its  object,  and  evoked  no 
reply. 

"Tell  him,"  continued  His  Excellency,  "that  I 
came  here  from  motives  of  clemency,  that  he  might 
have  a  last  chance  to  surrender  and  so  escape  in 

part  the  punishment  he  merits.     That " 

16 


242        THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"I  think  that  you  had  better  get  back  to  your 
lines,  in  that  case,"  said  a  suave  voice,  and  Corbyn 
stepped  out  at  Allardyce's  side.  "Mere  words, 
from  you,  have  little  meaning,  and — we're  ready." 

The  President  of  San  Benito  glared  most  mur- 
derously at  his  arch-enemy,  muttered  some  blas- 
phemy beneath  his  beard,  and,  wheeling  his  horse 
with  one  cruel  wrench  of  the  wrist,  galloped  back  to 
the  guns. 

"Make  fire!"  he  screamed,  and  at  the  order  all 
six  fuses  snapped  simultaneously.  A  single  ex- 
plosion rent  the  air,  while  the  shells  spattered  on  the 
rock  around  the  stairfoot,  and,  at  that  signal,  both 
the  other  columns  opened  fire  from  the  positions 
they  had  taken  up,  while  from  the  ridge  hummed 
chilled  steel  bolts  which  fell  upon  the  hacienda  in  an 
infernal  hail. 

Corbyn,  on  his  way  up  the  winding  stair  with 
Allardyce  at  his  elbow  and  his  men  preceding  him, 
heard  the  shrapnel  burst  in  the  guard-chamber 
underneath. 

"  We're  going  to  be  very  busy,"  he  opined,  "  and 
at  an  inconvenient  moment. 

"Poor  Denny's  missing,  Allardyce,  and  I'm 
afraid " 

"  Not  in  the  pit !    Not  in  the  pit ! " 

''Yes,  in  the  pit." 


CHAPTER   XVI 

IN   DESPERATION 

YGNACIO  YBARRA  felt  that  he  was  being  hardly 
used  by  fate.  Scarcely  had  he  set  foot  in  camp  on 
his  return  from  witnessing  the  execution  which  had 
afforded  him  such  lively  satisfaction  when  he  dis- 
covered on  his  desk  a  most  astounding  message 
from  the  dead  man. 

It  told  him,  in  curt  terms,  that  his  most  trusted 
General  had,  for  some  reason  unexplained,  but 
doubtless  foolishly  quixotic,  assumed  the  guise  of 
the  condemned,  ransomed  him  with  his  own  life. 

He  had  feared  and  disliked  Von  Rudolf,  had 
always  intended  to  rid  himself  of  the  Austrian;  but 
not  before  he  should  have  made  full  use  of  him. 
To  lose  him  thus  and  in  the  midst  of  crisis  was  mad- 
dening. It  was  as  though  the  servant  had  dis- 
missed his  master,  and  that  when  his  master  needed 
his  services  most.  His  Excellency,  biting  his  nails 
in  impotent  anger,  growled  like  a  beast  as  he  glared 
at  the  paper  before  him.  He  dared  not  tell  the 
troops  of  the  mistake  made  in  the  dusk  of  dawn, 
lest  they  should  turn  and  rend  him  because  of  it. 

Von  Rudolf  had  been  far  more  popular  among 
248 


244        THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

the  men  than  he,  and  since  the  pay-chest  had  run 
dry,  only  the  dead  man's  popularity  had  held  to- 
gether the  regiments  on  the  ridge.  These  had  been 
reinforced  by  guns  and  cavalry,  but  there  was  dis- 
content and  insubordination  among  all  arms  and 
the  sole  salve  for  these  was  money. 

He  had  been  counting  on  the  insurance  money 
due  him  for  the  Hilario  to  tide  him  over  till  he 
could  lay  hands  on  his  recalcitrant  cousin  again, 
but  that  the  New  York  underwriters  refused  to  pay, 
holding  that  a  man  who  is  foolish  enough  to  insure 
a  ship  and  then  sink  her  deliberately  is  well  off  if 
he  escape  prosecution  for  conspiracy  to  defraud. 

He  knew  only  too  well  that  no  more  was  to  be 
wrung  from  his  impoverished  country,  and  since 
Quentin  Sariol  had  been  at  work  its  foreign  credit 
also  had  been  cut  short.  He  cursed  Don  Quentin 
savagely  in  all  his  works  and  ways,  and  fate  re- 
warded him  with  a  long  cipher  message  from  Alta 
Cruz,  in  which  the  Vice-President  explained  that 
the  Red  Revolution  had  achieved  proportions  un- 
believable, that  he  felt  quite  incapable  of  coping 
with  it,  and  that  it  would  be  for  the  good  of  all 
concerned  if  President  Ybarra  would  tear  himself 
away  from  his  private  affairs  at  the  hacienda  and 
once  more  take  up  the  cares  of  state.  There  was 
even  a  veiled  threat  in  the  wording  of  it,  and  a 
postscript,  which  conveyed  the  news  that  a  strong 
insurgent  force  had  surrounded  the  capital,  asked 
instant  and  explicit  instructions. 


IN  DESPERATION  245 

"The  dog!"  His  Excellency  snarled  when  he  had 
mastered  this.  "  He  knows  that  I  am  tied  here  and 
is  shaping  matters  so  that,  if  I  seem  to  shirk  issue 
with  the  Reds,  he  may  step  into  may  shoes  and  make 
terms  with  them  for  his  own  advancement.  But 
there  is  only  room  for  one  ruler  in  San  Benito !  I'll 
show  him  that  the  Tiger  has  sharp  teeth  as  well  as 
claws." 

He  took  deep  thought  and  called  a  council  of  the 
senior  officers,  sour  and  unsmiling  men  with  many 
grievances,  to  whom  he  put  the  matter  with  engaging 
frankness. 

"Our  friend,  Von  Rudolf,"  he  said  smilingly, 
"  has  had  to  leave  us  at  an  anxious  time,  but  I  could 
not  spare  any  of  you  others,  and  it  will  be  for  a  few 
days  only. 

"Meantime  and  until  he  gets  back  with  the  gold 
he  has  gone  for,  I  have  decided  to  advance  out  of 
my  private  pocket  a  sufficient  sum  to  settle  all  out- 
standing pay-sheets. 

"The  savings  of  a  lifetime  spent  in  the  service 
of  our  country  are  insignificant,  but — all  that  there 
is  I  shall  devote  to  the  reduction  of  the  debt  I  owe 
you  and  your  men." 

Encouraged  by  the  signs  of  approval  which 
greeted  this  most  welcome  and  unexpected  statement, 
he  went  on  smoothly:  "Don  Quentin  Sariol  sends 
word  that  the  Reds  have  besieged  Alta  Cruz.  Our 
duty  calls  us  thither.  I  would  not  have  it  said  that 
we,  responsible  for  the  good  government  of  our 


246          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

afflicted  Fatherland,  were  absent  from  its  capital  cat 
such  a  moment.  I  put  it  to  you  frankly,  whether  we 
should  leave  those  filibustering  foreigners  in  full 
possession  of  the  Golden  Horseshoe,  wherein,  un- 
fortunately for  us  all,  are  locked  away  my  poor 
resources  against  poverty,  or, — seize  the  hacienda 
first  and  then " 

"If  you  have  funds  concealed  there,  in  God's 
name  let  us  storm  the  place,"  broke  in  a  grizzled 
colonel  of  artillery.  "Alta  Cruz  will  be  too  hot  to 
hold  us  if  we  march  back  with  empty  pockets,  with 
neither  cash  nor  credit." 

"Well  said,"  agreed  an  officer  of  cavalry  whose 
threadbare  uniform  proclaimed  his  impecunious 
plight. 

The  others  growled  unanimous  assent.  "Our 
men  are  mutinous  and  disaffected,"  they  said  bluntly. 
"  While  there  is  treasure  hidden  in  the  Jiacienda  we 
stay  here." 

"But  we  must  act,"  Ybarra  argued.  "What 
boots  it  to  sit  still  and  blow  my  buildings  into 
ruins ! " 

"Let  us  attack  then,"  snapped  their  spokesman. 
"  Are  twenty  men  to  hold  at  bay  an  army  ?  " 

His  Excellency  rose,  well  pleased  that  he  had 
gained  a  point  of  such  importance  by  a  stratagem 
so  simple.  He  had  been  half  afraid  that,  knowing 
him  for  what  he  was,  they  would  desert  his  standard. 
Their  gullibility,  in  spite  of  past  experience,  gave 
him  fresh  confidence. 


IN  DESPERATION  247 

"We  will  attack  within  the  hour,"  he  said  deci- 
sively, "  with  our  full  fighting  force.  Sheer  weight 
of  numbers  will  enable  us  to  overwhelm  the  enemy. 
Let  your  men  know  that,  once  we  hold  the  Jiacienda, 
there  will  be  ample  funds  wherewith  to  satisfy  their 
just  demands — with  interest  in  the  shape  of  a 
month's  pay  additional  for  all  ranks.  And,  in  Von 
Rudolf's  absence,  I  shall  lead  in  person.  I  hold 
the  only  key  to  the  position." 

He  watched  them  hasten  off,  and,  as  one  after 
another  reached  his  lines  and  spread  the  glad  news 
without  ceremony,  there  arose  a  dull  buzz  which 
presently  broke  into  a  thin,  crackling  semblance 
of  applause. 

"  Viva  el  Presidente!  "  was  its  burden,  and  don 
Ygnacio,  standing  at  his  tent-door,  smiled  with 
sardonic  pleasure  as  he  saw  the  train  that  he  had 
lit  burn  without  further  blowing  on  his  part. 

He  meant  to  make  his  promise  good  if  that  were 
absolutely  necessary,  after  the  place  was  taken,  by 
forcing  Beatriz  to  sign  a  draft  upon  her  bankers 
for  the  few  thousand  dollars  it  would  take  to  keep 
his  troops  in  temper.  What  plunder  he  had  hidden 
in  the  hacienda  was  in  the  shape  of  bonds  and  share 
certificates  which  he  could  not  by  any  means  negotiate 
while  he  held  office.  And,  furthermore,  they  formed 
the  nucleus  of  that  capital  with  which  he  hoped, 
when  he  had  added  a  sufficiency,  to  make  himself 
more  or  less  independent  of  his  cousin's  millions. 
His  final  goal  was  Paris,  where  it  would  not  be 


248         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

pleasant  to  exist  quite  on  sufferance  and  at  the 
caprice  of  a  wealthy  wife. 

He  turned  into  the  tent  and  got  himself  into  a 
gorgeous  uniform  in  time  to  inspect  the  miniature 
columns  as  they  marched  past  on  their  way  to  the 
parade-ground. 

The  ragged  rank  and  file  glanced  up  to  where  he 
stood  as  they  went  by,  and  he  could  see  how  much 
the  prospect  he  had  held  out  had  encouraged  them. 
They  were  all  eager  for  the  fray,  had  no  fear  of  de- 
feat. Those  left  behind  to  guard  the  ridge  were 
grumbling  for  that  they  were  not  to  take  part  in  the 
killing  that  was  toward. 

He  took  his  place  in  front  of  the  first  column,  and 
the  advance  commenced.  At  the  last  moment  he 
thought  fit  to  attempt  a  bloodless  victory,  and  rode 
into  the  stairfoot  to  demand  surrender.  It  would 
have  given  him  much  more  pleasure  to  hang  the 
garrison  piecemeal  afterwards  than  to  dispose  of 
them  from  a  distance  in  bulk.  But  his  interview 
with  Allardyce  and  Corbyn  upset  his  temper  terribly, 
and  then  the  guns  began  to  thunder.  He  knew 
that  most  of  their  fire  was  ineffectual,  but  counted 
on  its  moral  effect  to  frighten  the  besieged  before 
it  should  be  time  to  assault  the  stairway,  while  every 
single  man  that  the  shells  should  dispose  of  would 
be  one  less  to  withstand  the  stormers  there. 

A  ceaseless  shower  from  Schweitzer's  battery  on 
the  ridge  was  falling  on  the  flat  table-land  above, 
and  segregating  the  two  parties  into  which  the  de- 


IN  DESPERATION  249 

fence  had  perforce  fallen.  One  of  which  held  the 
stairway,  while  the  other  was  confined  to  the  chapel 
passage  whereby  the  tunnel  entrance  might  be 
reached.  Between  them  there  was  no  communica- 
tion possible  while  the  cruel  shrapnel  swept  the 
intervening  space. 

Ybarra  left  his  own  gun-squads  hard  at  work,  and 
cantered  round  to  where  his  second  column  was 
directing  its  fire  at  the  cliff-edge  above  the  stables. 
It  angered  him  sorely  that  he  should  have  to  disclose 
his  cherished  secret,  but,  since  that  must  be,  he  would 
be  prompt  about  it. 

"Lay  two  guns  on  the  centre  of  that  ivy-patch 
beyond  the  middle  roof,"  he  ordered.  "There  lies 
the  passage  by  which  we  must  gain  footing  on  the 
plateau." 

Two  or  three  bursting  shells  tore  the  green  screen 
apart,  and  then  they  sent  in  solid  shot  until,  upon 
the  bare  rock-face,  there  showed  a  black  spot  which 
was  the  tunnel  entrance. 

A  nod  from  him  and  word  went  spurring  to  begin 
the  assault  on  the  stairway,  while  he  slipped  from  his 
saddle,  and  went  forward  afoot  with  the  infantry 
who  were  to  enter  by  his  private  access.  From  the 
third  column,  idle  at  the  rear,  either  of  those  actively 
engaged  could  obtain  reinforcement  at  short  notice. 
The  field-guns  had  ceased  fire,  but  those  on  the  ridge 
maintained  their  raking  and  continuous  discharge. 

The  little,  wiry  linesmen  raced  each  other  to  the 
stairfoot,  and  went  swarming  up,  regardless  of  the 


250        THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

certain  death  which  waited  those  who  led  as  soon  as 
they  should  turn  the  corner  which  concealed  the 
strangely  silent  enemy.  Their  fellows  following 
were  thrusting  forward.  A  seething  wave  went 
swirling  upwards  until  its  crest  came  into  contact  with 
a  sheet  of  flame,  and  broke,  and  toppled  over,  and 
fell  back,  blood  red. 

Allardyce  and  his  men  had  held  their  hands  until 
time's  clock  ticked  out  the  crucial  moment. 

And  then  began  a  battle  such  as  no  man  would 
take  part  in  twice  of  his  own  choice.  A  battle  as 
between  wild  beasts  penned  into  a  close  cage,  while 
the  dead  weight  of  multitudes  of  others  pressed  them 
to  such  close  contact  that  it  was  barely  possible  to 
move.  For  those  above  had  built  a  battlement  of 
boulders  which  completely  blocked  the  narrow  way, 
and  four  of  them  were  fighting  on  the  outside,  while 
from  within  and  overhead  there  spat  the  vicious 
sparks  before  which  men  with  glaring  eyeballs 
bowed  blindly  down,  and  were  trampled  underfoot 
ere  they  could  rise  again. 

Therewith  an  outcry  as  of  hell  itself  let  loose,  a 
shrill,  insistent,  wailing  discord  keyed  to  the  utter- 
most of  agony. 

The  four  in  front  were  working  with  clubbed 
carbines  and  for  a  time  they  managed  to  keep  foot- 
hold clear,  but,  from  behind  the  writhing  heap  about 
their  feet,  one  of  the  storming-party  managed  to  pull 
trigger  and  one  of  Allardyce's  men  fell  limply  forward. 

"  Climb  back ! "  he  shouted  to  the  other  two,  and 


IN  DESPERATION  251 

they  obeyed  while  he  beat  off  the  hands  that  would 
have  held  them  by  the  heel.  The  muzzles  at  his 
shoulders  belched,  and,  while  the  gap  their  bullets 
made  about  him  still  endured,  he  in  turn  was  pulled 
upwards  into  temporary  safety. 

Immediately  the  wave  crest  surged  against  the 
barricade,  rose  and  curled  foaming  down  the  slope, 
came  on  again  with  the  same  sullen  fury.  But  it 
had  plucked  another  of  the  defenders  from  off  their 
slippery  breakwater.  He  dived,  head  foremost, 
disappeared  in  the  dark  undertow,  a  shapeless  pulp. 
Until,  at  length,  the  tide's  resistless  strength  over- 
topped every  obstacle,  lapped  to  the  barrier-lip, 
splashed  down  within. 

Ybarra's  men  had  met  with  no  resistance  at  the 
tunnel  mouth,  but  found  the  inner  door  securely 
closed  against  them.  Sappers  were  ordered  for- 
ward, and  these  soon  had  that  demolished.  Beyond 
it,  all  was  dark.  They  did  not  dare  to  show  a  light 
lest  it  should  bring  down  on  them  so  much  the  earlier 
the  inevitable  tempest.  Shoulder  to  shoulder  they 
crept  upwards,  carrying  ladders  with  them  to  bridge 
the  gulf  ahead.  Once  started  there  was  no  stop 
possible.  The  solid  phalanx  was  kept  moving  by 
the  relentless  pressure  at  its  base.  It  almost  seemed 
as  though  they  might  pass  unmolested  when,  without 
warning,  death  came  whistling  down  the  tunnel. 

The  echo  of  the  carbines  up  above,  intensified  in 
that  Cimmerian  burrow,  was  like  the  crack  of  doom. 
A  groan  of  horror  mingled  with  it.  But  for  those 


252        THE  GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

who  must  face  them  there  was  no  release,  and  itx»* 
by  foot  they  were  pushed  forward. 

The  first  discharge  had  done  small  damage,  how- 
ever. The  bullets  splashed  and  ricochetted  on  the 
walls,  filling  the  air  with  flying  splinters  which  cut 
deep  but  did  not  kill.  It  is  not  easy  to  aim  truly  in 
gross  darkness.  Wherefore,  and  also  to  avoid  dis- 
covering their  whereabouts,  the  men  in  front  did 
not  fire  back. 

One  or  two  fell  before  the  fusillade  that  was  kept 
up  against  them,  but  others  took  their  places,  and 
when  these  in  turn  had  borne  the  brunt  there  was 
no  lack  of  bearers  for  the  ladders.  Their  only  hope 
now  lay  in  emerging  from  the  trap  they  had  so 
blindly  entered.  One  slipped  and  fell,  but  forwards, 
and  another  followed  him.  Their  screams  came 
from  below,  and  it  was  obvious  that  this  was  where 
the  ladders  must  be  laid.  It  cost  a  dozen  more 
lives  to  lay  them  evenly  from  edge  to  slippery  edge 
of  the  pit-mouth,  but,  that  accomplished,  fifty  men 
out  of  a  hundred  scrambled  over.  And  the  last  was 
Ybarra.  By  his  direction  the  remainder  halted 
and  lay  down.  They  were  to  reinforce  him  when 
he  should  have  gained  the  crypt,  and  meantime  he 
himself  need  not  be  forced  forward  by  them,  while, 
if  the  fifty  failed,  he  would  avail  himself  of  the  alcove- 
like  gallery  as  to  whose  existence  all  were  ignorant 
except  himself,  and  thence  throw  further  forces 
forward  until  the  day  was  won. 

He  felt  his  way  along  the  ledge,  and,  sheltered 


IN  DESPERATION  253 

there  from  any  risk  of  a  stray  shot,  listened  intently 
to  the  turmoil  raging  beyond.  A  sulphurous  stench 
assailed  his  nostrils,  and  he  was  almost  deafened 
by  the  uproar,  but  over  all  he  heard  the  sound  of 
sobs  from  underneath  and  shivered  as  he  thought  of 
the  black  gulf  there. 

Ten  men  were  far  too  few  to  hold  the  tunnel,  and 
there  were  only  ten  to  withstand  the  assault.  Cor- 
byn,  Meggs,  and  eight  others  had  made  up  their 
minds  to  do  or  die  in  the  pitch  darkness,  and  they 
were  very  busy  doing. 

One  of  them  fell  and  then  another  as  the  fifty 
fought  them  backwards  step  by  step.  They  gave  way, 
to  charge  down  again,  regaining  their  lost  ground, 
but  every  enemy  they  overbore  was  speedily  replaced, 
while  the  two  gaps  in  their  own  ranks  could  not  be 
filled,  and  very  shortly  a  third  occurred,  leaving 
them  only  seven  strong. 

The  odds  were  too  unequal,  and,  in  spite  of  the 
most  desperate  efforts,  they  were  unable  to  hold 
their  own.  Inch  after  inch  they  ceded.  Meggs 
slipped  and  fell  among  the  ensanguined  moving 
bodies  over  which  the  combat  was  perforce  conducted, 
and  the  remaining  six  knew  that  their  plight  was 
practically  hopeless.  They  were  already  at  the 
crypt  door.  Three  of  them  passed  through  and  re- 
loaded, firing  point  blank  over  their  comrades* 
heads  into  the  swarm  beyond,  and,  by  the  flash, 
saw  that  a  fresh  detachment  of  troops  was  on  the 
point  of  crossing  the  chasm. 


254         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

Corbyn  had  opened  his  mouth  to  bid  the  others 
back  through  and  leave  him,  when  there  came 
rumbling  upwards  out  of  the  very  bowels  of  eartn 
the  blast  of  a  most  soul-sickening  explosion. 

Ybarra's  ears  had  been  throbbing  to  the  infernal 
din  about  him,  but  throughout  he  had  kept  his 
head  and  so  been  able  to  follow  the  course  of  events 
with  sufficient  accuracy  to  despatch  his  supports 
when  they  were  most  likely  to  turn  the  tide  of  battle 
in  his  favour.  He  heard  the  crypt-door  clang,  and 
cried  to  those  who  waited  that  they  should  advance. 
The  impulse  they  would  lend  to  the  exhausted  fight- 
ing line  should  surely  settle  matters,  and  there  were 
plenty  more  behind  to  take  a  hand  within  the  chapel. 

He  saw  success  within  his  grasp,  and  was  about 
to  congratulate  himself  upon  his  generalship,  when 
the  clutch  of  two  hands  about  his  ankles  all  but 
caused  him  to  lose  his  balance  and  so  fall  toppling 
into  space.  He  leaned  against  the  rough-hewn 
rock  behind  him  and  kicked  hard,  a  cold  sweat 
breaking  out  upon  his  brow.  The  sobbing  he  had 
heard  was  real,  not  imaginary.  There  was  some 
creature  crouching  there  beside  him.  The  skin 
upon  Ms  head  contracted.  His  superstitious  horror 
of  the  place  came  back  to  him  tenfold.  He  would 
have  fled  but  that  the  hands  held  fast. 

And  then  the  explosion  came. 

Warm,  sticky  smoke  spat  up  from  underfoot  and 
choked  his  lungs.  A  thin,  blue,  lambent  flame 
lit  up  a  picture  unforgettable.  In  front  of  him,  and 


IN  DESPERATION  255- 

overhanging  it,  were  the  frail  ladders  over  which  his 
men  were  thrusting.  Above,  the  rock-roof,  ghastly 
in  that  unearthly  glare.  Beneath,  a  seething  caul- 
dron filled  with  vapour,  twisted  and  torn  into  strange 
shapes  and  shot  with  corposant-like  lights  which, 
rose  and  fell  and  floated  there  like  souls  in  purgatory. 
Upon  the  ledge  and  holding  him  above  that  hell 
wherefrom  there  echoed  and  re-echoed  after  the 
first  infernal  thunder  a  most  blood-curdling  chorus, 
shrieks  and  groans  as  of  anguish  beyond  bearing, 
devilish  laughter,  lay  Joaquin  Gonzalez. 

Ybarra's  nerves  were  racked  to  utmost  tension, 
but  at  the  sight  of  this  man  all  the  human  beast  in 
him  awoke,  stifling  the  terror  which  had  almost 
overmastered  him. 

"Judas!"  he  hissed,  leaning  forward  to  loosen 
the  twining  fingers,  and,  as  the  spy  looked  up  at  him 
out  of  lack-lustre  eyes  from  which  all  intelligence 
had  fled,  "Judas!"  he  cried  aloud  again,  spitting. 

The  noisome  fog  was  choking  him,  he  was  alone 
there,  without  strength  to  save  himself,  but  he  stood 
watching  while  the  body  he  had  launched  forth  fell 
whirling  into  the  inferno. 

A  red-gold  glare  replaced  the  pale  light  which  had 
first  shot  up,  the  rumbling  grew  still  more  insistent, 
ominous. 

His  knees  gave  way  beneath  him.     He  collapsed. 


CHAPTER    XVH 

THE  ROLL-CALL 

'*  A  LIGHT  here — quick ! "  cried  Corbyn  from  the 
crypt,  and  Fifi  Florian  ran  forward  with  a  torch. 

An  impulse  irresistible  had  drawn  her  from  the 
chapel  where  Beatriz  and  she  had  spent  upon  their 
knees  that  seemingly  interminable  space  of  time 
for  which  the  fighting  had  endured. 

He  snatched  it  from  her  and  dived  down  into 
the  swirling  clouds  which  choked  the  tunnel,  thrust- 
ing it  here  and  there,  from  face  to  face  of  the  dead 
men  who  filled.it.  He  disappeared  from  view,  and 
two  of  those  above  went  after  him. 

They  found  him  swaying  on  his  feet  by  the  im- 
mobile body  of  Gerald  Meggs  lying  beneath  a  pile 
of  others,  and  bade  him  mount  again  while  they 
would  bring  it  up.  But  he  stayed  with  them  and 
together  they  achieved  their  object,  carrying  their 
comrade  back  to  the  crypt,  where  they  forthwith 
fell  headlong  and  for  long  lay  as  if  dead. 

The  women  tended  them,  and,  afterwards,  when 
they  had  in  some  measure  regained  consciouness, 
turned  to  the  body  they  had  brought. 

It  they  took  through  into  the  chapel,  setting  them- 
256 


THE  ROLL-CALL  257 

selves  to  save  the  life  that  lingered  in  it.  For  a  faint, 
intermittent  heart-beat  told  them  that  Meggs  had 
yet  a  slender  chance. 

Corbyn  staggered  to  his  feet,  and,  by  the  torch- 
light, saw  his  men  still  standing  guard  at  the  crypt- 
door  which  gave  upon  the  tunnel.  The  two  who 
had  gone  down  into  the  depths  with  him  were 
struggling  to  sit  up,  and  it  was  evident  that  they 
would  soon  be  fit  for  further  service. 

The  acrid  reek  which  filled  the  passage  under- 
neath would  safeguard  its  defenders  for  a  space. 
He  made  his  way  up,  through  the  chapel,  into  the 
open  air,  and  Beatriz  Ybarra  shuddered  as  he 
passed  her  where  she  and  Fifi  were  kneeling  over 
Meggs.  It  was  the  first  time  she  had  seen  the  gentle- 
mannered  Corbyn  in  such  case  and  his  face  frightened 
her. 

At  hazard  he  held  straightly  for  the  stairhead, 
despite  the  shells  that  Schweitzer  was  still  showering 
on  the  plateau,  and,  as  he  reached  his  objective, 
Allardyce's  men  came  streaming  up  the  last  steps 
and  threw  themselves  face  downwards  at  his  feet. 
Allardyce  followed  and  pulled  Corbyn  to  earth 
beside  him. 

A  sheet  of  flame  shut  the  pursuit  off,  a  rending 
blast  seemed  to  shake  the  whole  earth,  and  from 
below  came  one  short,  despairing  yell.  Then  silence. 

They  lifted    their  heads  and  listened:  rose  with 
wild   eyes,   and,   staring   strangely  at  each  other, 
crept  to  the  crumbling  cliff-edge. 
17 


258          THE  GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

As  they  drew  back  again  Allardyce  spoke  with 
shaking  voice:  "I  had  to  do  it,"  he  said.  "They 
had  us  beaten  otherwise." 

Corbyn  laid  a  soothing  hand  upon  his  shoulder. 
"  They  brought  it  on  themselves,"  he  answered, 
"and  I  shall  answer  with  you  for  it  when  the  time 
comes." 

They  turned  away,  leaving  sufficient  men  to  picket 
the  now  almost  inapproachable  stairway.  The 
others  they  sent  to  the  crypt,  and,  as  they  themselves 
crept  across  the  garden  to  espy  the  tunnel-entrance, 
u  How  did  you  do  it  ?  "  Corbyn  asked  quietly. 

"A  charge  of  picric.  I  saw  some  lying  in  that 
laboratory  behind  the  barn  when  we  were  there  this 
morning  and  thought  of  it  at  the  last  moment. 
McGuire  volunteered  to  fetch  it  across  for  me — he's 
a  brave  fellow,  that ! — and  while  we  fought  he  pried 
a  step  up  and  so  tamped  it  thoroughly.  It's  a  most 
terrible  explosive!" 

"I  think  that  you  were  justified  in  every  way," 
his  friend  reassured  him,  "although  it  was  a  grave 
risk  to  yourselves  as  well. 

"By  Jove!    Look  there." 

Allardyce  looked,  and  "  God ! "  he  cried :  "  What's 
happened  ? " 

The  stables  were  wreathed  in  grey  clinging 
smoke,  out  of  which  stumbled  now  and  then  dark 
figures.  Which  fell,  and  rose,  and  scrambled  for- 
ward, swaying,  and  rolled  over,  and  lay  still.  Be- 
yond them,  where  their  column  had  been  drawn  up, 


259 

the  plain  was  empty.  But  to  the  right,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  ridge,  there  was  a  moving  mass  and  far 
ahead  of  them  guns,  galloping,  in  full  retreat. 

"I  don't  quite  know  what  happened,"  Corbyn 
answered,  "  but  I  believe  we're  livingover  a  volcano." 

"And  Denny?" 

"Denny  has  perished  in  it." 

They  waited  there  till  the  first  fugitives  had  reached 
the  distant  camp,  and  then  the  shell-fire  ceased, 
enabling  them  to  satisfy  themselves  that  the  siege 
had  been  raised  all  round. 

Wherewith  they  went  back  to  the  chapel  and 
found  to  their  intense  relief  that  Meggs  was  showing 
signs  of  a  return  from  that  black  bourne  he  had  been 
on  the  point  of  crossing. 

And  Corbyn,  all  blood-stained  and  begrimed  and 
spent  with  battle,  sat  down  at  Beatriz  Ybarra's  feet 
where  she  was  busy  with  a  roll  of  bandages.  She 
said  no  word,  but  laid  a  hand  gently  on  his  bowed 
head.  A  golden  curl  brushed  past  his  cheek,  and 
something  else  touched  it  with  pitiful  tenderness. 
Then  she  went  on  with  her  work. 

Allardyce  had  already  recovered  his  sang-froid. 
He  call  the  roll  and  counted  his  survivors. 

Sixteen  were  left  out  of  the  twenty -one  who  had 
taken  part  in  the  defence,  and  eight  of  these  were 
subjects  for  a  surgeon. 

Von  Rudolf's  man  had  fallen,  fighting  bravely, 
and  four  others.  It  seemed  most  marvellous  that 
any  should  have  escaped  at  all. 


260  THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

Gonzalez  must  be  set  down  missing,  and  as  for 
O'Dare — he  stopped,  and  sighed,  in  memory  of 
one  more  comrade  who  had  joined  the  great  major- 
ity. There  were  so  many  now,  but  none  he  would 
miss  more  than  that  stanch  ally  in  adversity. 

He  posted  six  of  his  eight  sound  men  at  points  of 
vantage,  took  a  fresh  torch,  passed  through  the  crypt 
with  the  remaining  two,  and  tried  the  tunnel.  The 
smoke  had  partially  cleared,  and  he  was  able  to 
make  his  way  by  degrees,  through  the  dead  bodies 
there,  to  the  pit-mouth.  At  that  point  also  all  was 
silent.  The  scaling-ladders  still  lay  where  they  had 
been  left  when  the  panic-stricken  attack  had  turned 
and  fled. 

He  tipped  them  over  the  edge.  They  fell  without 
a  sound. 

Turning  towards  the  ledge,  he  passed  around  the 
gallery,  and,  at  its  narrowest,  found  Ybarra  lying 
in  a  huddled  heap. 

He  called  his  two  assistants  and  they  carried  that 
limp  body  also  into  the  crypt. 

"He's  dead,  no  doubt,"  said  Allardyce,  "but 
we'll  make  sure  before  we  bury  him." 

A  hasty  survey  of  the  lower  stretch  of  stair  showed 
that  it  was  comparatively  clear,  and  then  he  turned 
back  to  attend  the  President. 

"He's  not  dead  yet,"  Corbyn  whispered  to  him 
with  dry  lips,  "  and  I  suppose  that  we  must  not  take 
justice  into  our  own  hands. 

**  Will  you  look  after  him,  Allardyce  ?  " 


THE  ROLL-CALL  261 

The  Englishman  nodded,  knowing  the  dire  tempta- 
tion, since  it  had  come  to  him  also.  It  would  have 
:been  so  very  easy  to  send  what  looked  like  a  corpse 
after  the  ladders  into  the  abyss. 

He  set  to  work  in  a  far  corner  with  such  resources 
as  were  available,  and,  after  much  patient  effort, 
was  rewarded  by  some  symptom  of  returning  anima- 
tion ;  a  faint,  almost  imperceptible  movement  of  the 
eyelids,  a  respiration  scarce  discernible. 

Meggs  had  pulled  round  already  and  came 
shuffling  over  to  ask  if  he  could  assist. 

"Tell  me  about  O'Dare,  Jerry,"  Allardyce 
requested  breathlessly.  "  I'll  resurrect  this  criminal 
myself." 

"We  let  him  down  till  he  signalled  'Stop,'"  said 
Meggs  in  a  lifeless,  mechanical  voice.  "Then  the 
rope  swayed  a  good  deal  and  we  started  to  haul  in 
without  waiting  for  any  order.  But  the  weight  was 
off  it.  We  lowered  it  again  and  waited :  waited  till 
the  attack  was  close  on  us,  when  we  had  to  wind  up 
or  else  let  go  altogether. 

"It  was  cut  clean  through,  signal-line  and  all,  at 
the  far  end. 

"How  could  that  happen,  Allardyce?" 

"I  can't  imagine,  Jerry,  old  chap.  You  mustn't 
fret  about  it.  Denny  would  say  the  same  if  he 
were  here." 

Meggs  passed  restlessly  onwards,  but  with  drag- 
ging footsteps,  and  then  turned  back  to  ask,  "  Has 
the  smoke  cleared  yet  ?  " 


262          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

"It  was  clearing  rapidly  when  I  came  up,"  said 
Allardyce. 

"  I  wish  you'd  help  me  when  you're  through  here," 
begged  Meggs.  "I'm  going  down  below  to  look 
for  him." 

A  little  later  don  Ygnacio  Ybarra  was  out  of  dan- 
ger, and  Allardyce  entrusted  the  further  care  of  him 
to  two  of  the  less  seriously  wounded  men,  whom  he 
provided  with  utensils  for  the  prompt  suppression 
of  their  prisoner  in  case  that  stormy  petrel  should 
show  any  signs  of  spreading  his  wings  for  flight. 

"  Treat  him  with  all  due  respect — but  don't  stand 
any  nonsense,"  he  instructed  them,  and  sought 
out  Corbyn,  who  was  once  more  occupied  with  all 
the  cares  of  his  almost  desperate  situation. 

"The  well's  run  dry,"  was  his  first  greeting,  and 
at  that  Allardyce  looked  very  blank;  "and  we've 
only  fifty-eight  rounds  of  ammunition  left,"  he  added 
gloomily. 

"Did  Meggs  tell  you  that  he  wants  to  go  after 
Denny?"  Allardyce  asked  after  he  had  digested 
these  unpleasant  tidings. 

"Yes,  and  I  didn't  like  to  stop  him.  He's  ter- 
ribly upset  about  it  all,  and — I  wish  you'd  see  to  it 
that  he  does  nothing  rash.  I'll  send  you  warning 
if  there's  any  move  on  the  enemy's  part  towards 
the  tunnel,  but  I  don't  think  there  will  be  at  the 
moment." 

That  was  all  Allardyce  had  aimed  at,  and  he  went 
underground  again  in  haste. 


THE   ROLL-CALL  263 

The  bodies  on  the  steps  had  been  disposed  of  by 
the  only  method  possible,  that  of  consigning  them 
to  the  dark  gulf  below,  and  when  he  reached  its 
orifice  he  found  Meggs  actively  engaged  in  prepara- 
tion for  the  perilous  descent  thereinto. 

The  glare  of  torches  and  the  fire  his  helpers  had 
kindled  in  the  cresset  shewed  a  velvet  blackness 
beneath,  and,  when  they  held  their  breaths  to  listen, 
utter  silence  reigned. 

"I've  sent  a  light  down,"  Meggs  remarked,  "and 
it  burned  brightly  at  the  limit  of  the  line.  The 
air's  cleared.  There  must  be  some  sort  of  ventila- 
tion below." 

"Let  me  go  in  your  place,  old  chap,"  Allardyce 
begged  persuasively,  but  Meggs  merely  shook  his 
head. 

"You'll  stay  here,  won't  you,  Allardyce?"  said 
he,  "  and  lower  me  until  I'm  satisfied  ?  I've  brought 
down  a  fresh  coil  of  rope  to  lengthen  this. 

"  Don't  pull  me  up  till  I  tell  you  to.  That  was  the 
mistake  I  made,  and  it  has  cost  us  dearly." 

He  spoke  quite  briskly,  and  the  other  promised 
to  observe  his  wishes.  It  was  too  late  now  to  cavil. 

So  that  Meggs  went  down  into  the  depths  without 
more  words,  to  find  out  why  his  friend  had  not 
returned  therefrom. 

"His  light's  disappeared,"  reported  the  lookout 
man  on  the  ledge,  but  Allardyce,  despite  his  fears, 
paid  fathom  after  fathom  out  until,  to  his  unspeak- 
able relief,  the  signal  came  to  stop. 


264         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

"Seems  to  be  swinging  a  good  deal,"  said  the  ob- 
server, and  Allardyce,  both  hands  on  the  rope,  could 
feel  it  come  and  go  a  little  while  the  men  behind  him 
held  fast. 

The  weight  went  off  it  suddenly  and  a  cold  fear 
laid  finger  on  his  heart.  What  if  another  clean-cut, 
empty  line  were  all  they  could  recover  from  that 
most  mysterious  chasm! 

For  five  long  minutes  which  passed  like  five 
centuries  he  stood  there  motionless  and  mindful  of 
his  promise.  A  throb  of  thankfulness  set  his  heart 
beating  with  fresh  vigour  as  two  emphatic  tugs  at 
the  cord  about  his  wrist  said  "Heave  away." 

"  Shoulder  the  rope,  McGuire,  and  haul  down-hill," 
he  said,  and  proceeded  to  pull  hard,  hand  over 
hand. 

It  proved  a  harder  task  than  he  had  anticipated, 
considering  Meggs'  light  weight,  and  they  had  to 
pause  twice  to  draw  breath  ere  the  outlook  encouraged 
them  with  the  announcement,  "  Light  below ! "  And 
shortly  after  that  a  cheery  shout  of  "  Here  he  comes ! " 
caused  them  to  slow  down  lest  their  passenger 
should  strike  the  rocks  with  violence  unnecessary. 
And  then  his  head  and  shoulders  showed  above 
the  brim,  and  Allardyce  cried  in  a  scared  voice, 
"Denny!" 

He  might  have  let  the  rope  slip  in  lu's  absolute 
amazement  but  that  McGuire  had  hold  of  it  far 
down  the  tunnel.  And  the  grey  ghost  attached  to  its 
travelling  end  said,  somewhat  crossly,  "Haul  in, 


THE  ROLL-CALL  265 

you  silly  owl!  For  Heaven's  sake,  don't  drop 
me!" 

A  final  effort  fetched  him  to  safe  footing,  and, 
while  Allardyce  danced  to  and  fro  and  slapped  him 
on  the  shoulder,  trying  to  find  words  to  express  his 
feelings  but  failing  dismally,  he  stared  about  him 
with  a  vast  contentment.  And  his  drawn  face 
relaxed  a  little  as  he  said  in  softer  tones,  "Excuse 
my  temper,  Allardyce,  but — I've  had  a  trying  time. 

"We  must  get  Jerry  up  at  once.  It  isn't  nice  to 
be  down  there  alone. 

"  Lower  away  until  you  reach  the  length  he  stopped 
you  at,  and  then  I'll  show  you  how  to ' 

He  picked  up  a  hank  of  cord,  and,  when  McGuire, 
the  cable-end  about  his  waist,  was  once  more  close 
to  them,  knew  there  was  rope  enough  out.  He  made 
one  end  of  the  cord  fast  to  it,  and  led  the  other 
round  the  ledge  to  the  lip  opposite. 

Two  or  three  steady  pulls  set  the  rope  swaying 
like  a  pendulum,  and  presently  the  outlook  told 
them  it  had  stopped. 

"That  means  that  Meggs  has  caught  it,"  said 
O'Dare,  and  almost  instantly  there  came  the  second 
signal  to  pull  up. 

With  which  it  was  not  long  before  Meggs  also 
came  back  from  the  tomb-like  abyss ;  and  in  a  state 
of  mind  which  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  nervous 
prostration.  His  venture,  on  the  top  of  his  ex- 
periences of  that  morning,  had  taxed  him  to  the 
uttermost. 


266 

They  did  not  linger,  therefore,  but,  having  sent 
McGuire  on  in  advance  to  break  to  their  friends  the 
news  of  O'Dare's  most  amazing  resurrection,  climbed 
upwards  arm  in  arm. 

Corbyn  came  through  the  crypt  to  meet  them, 
while  the  two  girls  at  the  trap-door  above  could 
scarcely  wait  till  he  came  forth  to  welcome  him ;  and 
Fifi's  eyes  were  full  of  thankful  tears,  and  Beatriz 
Ybarra  stammered  as  she  spoke,  and  even  the 
wounded  men  sat  up  to  cheer. 

Dennis  was  quite  embarrassed  by  the  wTarmth  of 
his  reception,  and  gradually  the  strained  expression 
in  his  eyes  gave  place  to  one  of  calmer  retrospect. 

He  told  his  story  simply,  in  few  words. 

"  A  rock  abutting  hid  my  light  when  I  was  half- 
way down,"  he  said,  "and,  of  course,  I  lost  sight  of 
those  above  at  the  same  moment.  The  funnel  does 
not  fall  plumb,  but  curves  inwards  from  that  point. 

"  I  could  see  that  the  rope  was  travelling  in  a  groove 
on  the  rock-face  above  me;  which  showed  that  I 
was  not  by  any  means  the  first  to  explore  the  cavern. 
Otherwise  I  would  have  turned  back  then  and  there, 
for  underneath  I  could  see  something  moving. 

"  I  was  half -sick  with  fright,  but  knew  that  Jerry 
would  run  me  up  whenever  I  gave  the  word,  and  so 
went  on  until  I  saw  to  one  side  a  smooth  shelf.  And 
on  the  wall  behind  it  was  an  iron  ring. 

"  I  started  swinging  so  that  I  might  reach  it,  and 
very  soon  succeeded  in  doing  so. 

"Standing  there,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 


THE   ROLL-CALL  267 

years  must  have  passed  since  any  one  had  set  foot 
on  it.  The  ring  was  rotting,  the  rock  beneath  was 
thickly  coated  with  fine  grey  dust. 

"  Ahead  of  me  I  saw  what  looked  like  a  rude  door- 
way, and,  of  course,  had  to  find  out  whether  there 
was  any  chance  for  us  through  that.  It  was  not  idle 
curiosity  that  kept  me  going,  I  can  tell  you. 

''But  Jerry's  knots  proved  too  tough  for  my 
fingers.  I  had  to  cut  the  rope  to  free  myself,  and, 
most  unfortunately,  reached  too  high,  with  the 
result  that  I  severed  the  signal-cord  also,  and  in 
my  anxiety  to  save  that  I  lost  my  life-line.  There 
I  was  stranded,  with  both  of  them  dangling  six  or 
eight  feet  beyond  my  reach. 

"I  howled  and  shouted  until  I  was  hoarse;  but 
could  hear  no  reply.  That  was  because  the  rock  is 
honeycombed  with  openings  which  lead  Heaven 
knows  where,  but  evidently  carry  off  all  sound.  I 
studied  them  on  my  way  up. 

"I  was  half  frantic  for  a  time,  but  judged  that 
some  one  would  come  after  me  and  plucked  up  heart 
to  employ  my  time  more  usefully  for  all  of  us. 

"The  door  was  latched,  without  a  lock,  and  on 
the  inside  " — his  face  blanched  again,  he  spoke  with 
twisted  lips — "  on  the  inside  there  was  a  grey  monk 
sitting — on  an  oaken  chest — his  head  hung  forward 
beneath  his  cowl.  I  could  have  cried  with  cold  ter- 
ror !  But,  as  I  started  back,  he  disappeared — melted 
away  before  my  eyes — God!  it  was  horrible. 

"Nothing  but  sheer  funk  kept  me  from  bolting 


268         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

back  past  the  spot  where  he  had  been  sitting,  and — 
flinging  myself  from  the  shelf.  I'm  thankful  I  was 
preserved  from  that. 

"As  soon  as  I  could  think,  I  knew,  of  course,  that 
I  had  merely  come  across  a  mummy,  and  mustered 
up  sufficient  courage  to  root  round  and  make  some 
more  investigations. 

"The  chest  he  had  been  sitting  on  was  full  of 
church  plate — cups,  and  candle-sticks,  and  chalices, 
all  solid  gold — and  there  were  others  ranged  behind 
it.  I  didn't  open  them,  and  only  brought  away  one 
relic." 

He  drew  forth  from  an  inside  pocket  a  little  ob- 
long volume  bound  in  yellow  boards  that  looked 
like  horn,  and  Corbyn  took  it  from  him,  turning  over 
the  thick,  crackling  leaves  until  he  saw  this  super- 
scription in  thin,  faded  characters  traced  by  a  clerkly 
hand  and  very  long  ago: 

"Fray  Jayme,  Madryd,  1620,"  and  underneath, 
"Sefyel." 

" '  Be  faithful,' "  he  translated  the  curt  motto 
which  had  brought  its  owner  overseas  from  Spain. 
"And  he  was  very  faithful,  poor  chap — even  unto 
death. 

"Will  you  let  Beatriz  have  this  missal,  Denny? 
If  all  goes  well  with  us  we'll  treasure/it  as  a  remem- 
brance of  you  and  our  other  comrades  here,  the 
living  and  the  dead." 

O'Dare  assented  willingly. 

*  Another  iron  ring  at  the  far  end  of  the  treasure- 


THE  ROLL-CALL  2C9 

house  attracted  my  attention,  and  after  some  trouble. 
I  succeeded  in  divining  its  use.  It  was  the  handle 
to  a  solid  slab  of  stone,  set  on  a  pivot,  which  served 
as  a  door,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  to  see  what  lay 
beyond  that  also. 

"  It  gave  on  an  inner  chamber  where  the  air  was 
cool  and  pleasant.  A  flight  of  steps  there  led  to  a 
low  cell,  and  down  what  looked  like  a  long  shaft 
in  its  back  wall  a  strong  wind  was  whistling. 

"  The  opening  was  a  very  small  one  and  there  was 
a  hinged  iron  plate  held  back  at  one  side  by  a  hasp. 
I  slipped  that  and  it  closed  at  once,  diverting  the  air- 
current  into  the  chamber  I  had  come  through. 

"Almost  immediately  I  was  half  deafened  by  a 
horrible  explosion  and  an  infernal  glare  lit  the  place 
up  like  electricity. 

"I  bolted  back,  but  fell,  half  choked,  before  I 
could  reach  the  shelf  I  had  landed  on.  The  pit 
itself  was  vomiting  like  a  volcano. 

"  I  scrambled  in  again  and  closed  the  aperture  at 
the  end  of  the  treasure-house  to  shut  the  smoke  out, 
leaving  myself  once  more  in  darkness  but  for  the 
candle  I  had  with  me. 

"A  sudden  inspiration  caused  me  to  wrench  up 
the  shaft  cover,  and  then  I  got  some  inkling  of  the 
cause  of  trouble.  Peering  through,  as  though  the 
sloping  shaft  had  been  a  telescope,  I  saw,  deep  down 
below,  the  bubbling  crater  which  will  lie  quiet  while 
the  ventilation  suits  it,  but,  if  that  is  diverted,  will 
wake  up  and  spit  the  hacienda  from  its  lips. 


270        THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"  It  must  have  been  the  Spanish  monks  who  har- 
nessed it  to  make  an  actual  hell,  and  at  the  end  of 
all  these  centuries  their  machinery  works  perhaps 
more  smoothly  than  it  did  with  them. 

"In  any  case,  the  uproar  began  to  die  away 
soon  after  I  had  released  the  air-current.  The 
flames  below  burned  out,  and  after  an  interval 
which  seemed  age-long  I  ventured  to  try  the  stone 
door  again.  Three  times  I  had  to  close  it  hurriedly 
before  the  smoke  cleared,  but  at  last  I  got  back  to 
the  shelf  and  sat  there  in  the  heat  till  I  saw  Jerry's 
light  and  knew  that  he  had  not  forgotten  me,  as  I 
had  almost  begun  to  fear.  I  felt  as  if  I  had  been 
down  there  for  endless  ages." 

He  ceased  and  for  a  long  time  no  one  spoke.  The 
tale  he  had  told  had  almost  been  beyond  belief  but 
for  the  unassailable  corroboration  of  the  eruption 
they  had  witnessed.  Thought  of  the  agonies  he 
must  have  suffered  held  them  tongue-tied  till  a  voice 
spoke  from  behind,  a  covetous,  uncertain  voice 
which  grated  strangely  on  their  ears :  "  The  hacienda 
of  the  Golden  Horseshoe  is  my  property,  and  mine 
alone,"  it  said.  "The  treasure  that  you  chanced 
upon  is  mine,  all  mine.  I  knew — I  knew  that  it 
was  there." 

A  lame  and  lying  voice,  little  like  that  in  which 
Ygnacio  Ybarra  was  wont  to  make  his  statements. 
And  no  one  answered  it. 

"Have  you  made  up  your  mind  yet,  Corbyn?" 
Allardyce  asked  presently  and  his  friend  replied, 


THE  ROLL-CALL  271 

"Yes.  Since  there  is  no  other  way.  I'll  go — at 
nightfall." 

"  It  would  be  perhaps  as  well  to  take  His  Excel- 
lency with  you." 

"Yes,"  Corbyn  agreed  again,  "I'll  take  him  with 
me." 

"  I'll  go  and  get  things  ready,  then,"  said  Allardyce. 

He  went  off  with  O'Dare,  and  all  that  afternoon 
the  two  worked  together  among  the  clump  of  trees 
behind  the  barns.  With  fire  and  cords  and  tubes 
and  cylinders  they  followed  all  the  formulae  that 
Allardyce  had  already  set  down  on  paper  even  as 
Corbyn  had  done.  When  all  was  ready  they  stopped 
to  watch  the  sun  set. 

A  gentle  breeze  was  blowing  from  the  inner  rim 
of  the  great  horseshoe  shape  which  shut  them  in. 
The  twinkling  camp-fires  on  the  far-off  ridge  burned 
brightly  as  it  fanned  them. 

Allardyce  turned  to  O'Dare  and  laughed.  "  The 
President  will  curse  his  passion  for  new  toys  when 
he  sees  how  this  one's  going  to  serve  us,"  said  he, 
and,  looking  round,  saw  a  small  group  advancing 
towards  the  clearing  in  which  he  and  his  companion 
stood. 

Corbyn  came  forward  first  and  cast  the  eye  of  a 
connoisseur  over  the  silken  sphere  which  swayed 
and  rustled  in  its  centre.  Behind  him,  and  some- 
what shyly,  appeared  two  comely  boys,  one  dressed 
like  a  chauffeur,  the  other  in  a  uniform.  Ybarra, 
with  hands  tied  behind  his  back  and  two  armed 


272         THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

guards  attending  him,  brought  up  the  rear,  and  when 
he  saw  the  great  balloon,  which  he  had  believed 
to  be  damaged  beyond  repair,  tug-tugging  at  its 
moorings,  a  moan  of  baffled  rage  broke  from  his  lips, 
he  struggled  in  his  bonds  until  a  peremptory  order 
quieted  him. 

For  the  last  time  Allardyce  went  over  every  work- 
ing-part, inspecting  valves  and  cordage,  car  and 
stores.  That  to  him  was  no  new  experience. 

Then  the  two  boys  who  were  once  girls  climbed  in, 
and  the  five  free  men  there  laid  hands  upon  the 
President  of  San  Benito,  to  such  purpose  that  he 
was  shortly  trussed  and  ready  for  his  aerial  flight. 
But  his  place  was  underneath  the  car,  not  inside  it. 

All  save  he  shook  hands  silently,  and  O'Dare 
almost  broke  down  as  he  pressed  Fifi's  slender  fingers 
for  what  might  well  prove  the  last  time.  None  of 
them  but  felt  the  stress  of  parting  very  keenly,  but, 
since  it  must  be,  Corbyn  gave  the  word  quickly. 
The  moorings  parted  simultaneously  under  the 
ready  knives. 

A  last  good-bye  came  floating  back  from  above 
the  tree-tops  and  there  were  four  lives  hanging  in 
the  wind. 

The  moon  had  risen  already  and  the  wind  seemed 
to  be  dropping.  The  great  globe  overhead  was 
floating  slowly  northwards  but  at  no  great  elevation. 

"I  didn't  dare  to  put  much  ballast  in,  with  all 
their  weight  on  board,"  Allardyce  said  to  O'Dare 
as  they  passed  the  torn  and  battered  hacienda  build- 


THE  ROLL-CALL  273 

ings  on  their  way  to  the  extreme  point  of  the  plateau, 
whence  they  might  see  their  friends  across  the  ridge. 
"  It  will  be  deadly  dangerous  for  them  if  they  don't 
rise.  Schweitzer's  a  stunning  marksman." 

"  I  wish  we  had  been  able  to  send  him  word  that 
Don  Ygnacio's  on  board — or  rather,  under  board — 
returned   O'Dare.     "In  any   case   they   can   drop 
him  if  it's  impossible  to  reach  a  safe  height  other- 
wise." 

Meggs  came  up  behind  and  "Are  they  safely 
off?"  he  asked.  "I  said  good-bye  below.  Corbyn 
set  me  at  work  which  kept  me  there." 

A  distant  bugle  answered  him  and  then  another. 
The  fires  on  the  ridge  went  out  with  surprising 
suddenness.  The  enemy  had  already  observed  the 
fugitives,  and  was  all  alert. 

"It's  the  explosive  gas  that  I'm  afraid  of,"  Allar- 
dyce  continued.  "A  bursting  shell  would  blow 
them  into  smithereens.  But — we  were  lucky  to 
find  even  that,  and  with  a  little  more  luck  they'll — 
Ah!  damn  you!" 

A  dull  report  had  come  up-wind,  and  the  listening 
watchers   knew   that   a   shell   had   gone   shrieking 
skywards  with  the  dark  image  of  a  ghastly  death 
astride  it. 
18 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE  RED  REVOLUTIONISTS 

THE  wires  between  La  Boca  and  Alta  Cruz  had 
not  yet  been  repaired  at  all  points,  for  the  insurgent 
forces,  gaining  power  and  prestige  with  each  day 
Ybarra  delayed  at  the  Golden  Horseshoe,  had  now 
assumed  the  offensive,  and  were  laying  waste  the  land. 
They  saw  to  it  that  no  news  of  their  operations 
trickled  through  to  the  coast. 

Don  Quentin  Sariol  had  endured  with  all  philos- 
ophy their  presence  outside  his  shut  gates.  The 
capital  was  in  a  state  of  siege,  but  that  did  not  seem 
to  disturb  him.  He  had  harangued  the  few  troops 
left  at  his  disposal  since  the  President  had  almost 
emptied  the  cavalry  and  artillery  barracks  to  serve 
his  private  ends,  and,  that  done,  adopted  a  patient 
dignity  under  difficulties  which  might  have  deceived 
any  one  who  did  not  know  him  intimately. 

But  every  citizen  of  Alta  Cruz  knew  him  well, 
had  known  him  too  long  to  be  taken  in,  and  even 
Challoner,  the  special  correspondent  of  the  New 
York  Wireless,  who  was  the  only  stranger  then  within 
the  walls,  winked  cynically  after  he  had  sized  up  the 
Vice-President's  new  attitude. 

274 


THE  RED   REVOLUTIONISTS        £75 

That  most  assiduous  searcher  after  news  of  note 
had  taken  up  his  quarters  in  the  city  of  the  golden 
spires  after  his  ignominious  expulsion  from  the 
Golden  Horseshoe.  He  had  the  entree  of  the  palace 
wherein  he  picked  up  that  information  which  went 
winging  coastwards  with  the  carrier-pigeons  he  had 
thoughtfully  provided  for  such  purpose,  so  that 
Newspaper  Row  and  Fleet  Street  were  far  better 
informed  as  to  what  was  going  on  in  San  Benito 
than  were  the  bulk  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  be- 
nighted country. 

The  South -American  republic  was  in  a  state  of 
anarchy,  its  debts  unpaid,  its  treasury  empty,  His 
Excellency,  its  official  head,  secluded  at  or  near 
his  summer  residence  among  the  mountains,  whence 
the  most  urgent  appeals  for  his  presence  had  failed 
to  entice  him  back  to  his  post.  His  deputy  did  not 
dare  to  assume  office  in  his  absence,  was  waiting 
the  trend  of  events,  would  take  no  action  whatever 
at  his  own  risk.  Responsible  government  there 
was  none ;  the  strongest  party  at  the  moment  was 
that  of  the  insurgent  Reds. 

Such  was  the  situation  as  set  forth  under  scare 
head-lines  in  the  Wireless  on  the  same  morning  that 
its  delegate  at  Alta  Cruz  went  up  the  palace-steps 
for  the  last  time.  He  had  heard  rumours  of  an 
impending  consultation  between  Don  Quentin,  with 
such  members  of  the  National  Assembly  as  were 
then  in  residence  within  the  capital,  and  the  leaders 
of  the  revolutionary  movement,  which]  assuredly 


276          THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

presaged  trouble  for  some  one;  whether  Ybarra, 
against  whom  they  were  plotting,  or  themselves,  on 
whom  the  Tiger  might  spring  from  his  lair  at  any 
moment,  no  one  could  yet  foresee  and  they  least 
of  all. 

The  palace  was  well  guarded,  but  Challoner,  duly 
accredited,  made  his  way  unchecked  to  the  great 
banquet-hall  wherein  seats  had  been  set  for  those 
expected.  He  was  the  earliest  arrival  there  and  took 
the  opportunity  to  seek  a  corner  where  his  presence 
need  not  be  unnecessarily  noticeable.  It  irked  him 
to  be  bound  by  such  precautions,  but  while  the 
Wireless  paid  him  for  the  gathering  of  foreign  in- 
telligence he  had  to  sink  all  scruples  in  its  service, 
safeguard  himself,  its  representative,  by  all  means 
in  his  power. 

A  curtained  window-seat  provided  him  with  the 
seclusion  needed,  and  there  he  waited  as  the  room 
filled — eavesdropping  if  you  will,  but  from  no  mean 
motive  and  at  his  own  grave  risk. 

A  dozen  men  in  frock-coats  and  soft  hats  slipped 
in,  sat  down  in  shamefaced  silence  until  one,  a  little 
bolder  than  his  brethren,  spoke  sibilantly  to  another, 
when  there  broke  out  a  low  storm  of  suspicious 
whispering.  Others  appeared  till  Challoner  could 
count  eighteen,  and  the  eighteenth  was  Quentin  Sa- 
riol,  smiling  suavely,  hand  outstretched  to  every  one. 

He  took  the  chair  of  State,  the  others  closed  up 
towards  him,  and  without  further  ceremony  they 
commenced  their  session. 


THE   RED  REVOLUTIONISTS        277 

One  greybeard  got  upon  his  feet,  and  speaking, 
by  his  own  statement,  for  the  people,  repeated  a  long 
list  of  grievances,  asking  redress  for  them  of  the 
Vice-President. 

"Senor  Ybarra  has  deserted  us  in  our  darkest 
hour,"  he  cried  with  tragic  gesture  and  concluded. 

Following  him,  the  Minister  of  Finance  begged 
leave  to  state  that  he  had  no  finances,  and  proved 
the  need  thereof  if  he  were  to  hold  his  portfolio. 
"We  are  the  laughing-stock  of  South  America," 
said  he  with  frowning  brows,  "  we,  patriots  and  men 
of  single  mind.  I  call  upon  you,  fellow-countrymen, 
to  free  yourself  for  ever  from  the  impositions  which 
have  drained  the  very  dregs,  wrung  the  last  copper 
coin  from  a  treasury  once  well  stocked,  of  a  respon- 
sibility none  could  impugn." 

Foreign  Affairs  added  his  quota  to  the  general  dis- 
content, and  his  colleague,  the  Minister  of  War, 
spoke  wofully  of  matters  military.  "  It  is  not  meet," 
he  urged,  "that,  while  we  suffer  here  the  hardships 
and  privations  seemingly  inseparable  from  a  siege, 
the  flower  of  our  brave  army  should  be  forced  afield 
to  aid  a  private  enterprise.  I  see  the  body  politic 
without  a  head,  and  sick  at  heart.  Let  us  beware 
lest  it  should  die  before  we  call  in  the  doctor." 

Subdued  applause  greeted  this  happy  simile  and 
he  sat  down.  A  dozen  others  had  remarks  to  make 
in  a  like  strain,  and  Sariol,  the  slippery,  heard  them 
out  in  silence ;  and  when  they  looked  to  him  for  some 
response,  he  merely  said,  "A  deputation  from  the 


278         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

misguided  men  who  have  besieged  this  city  has 
asked  the  honour  of  an  interview  with — with  us. 
Shall  we  receive  them  here — or  send  word  that  we 
do  not  treat  with  rebels  ?  " 

His  assumption  of  the  impartial  outsider  tickled 
Challoner,  who  knew  how  carefully  all  these 
proceedings  had  keen  planned.  But  the  grey 
beard  was  once  more  wagging,  and  to  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent's discomfiture.  "  We  look  to  you  for  guidance, 
Don  Quentin,"  its  owner  answered  for  his  fellows. 
"You  are  responsible,  in  His  Excellency's  absence, 
for  the  conduct  of  affairs  of  State." 

Don  Quentin,  thus  hard  pressed,  touched  the 
golden  bell  beside  him,  and  at  the  signal  there  was 
ushered  in  a  group  of  swarthy,  black-browed  fighting 
men,  who,  in  defiance  of  all  etiquette,  were  fully 
armed.  They  clanked  across  to  where,  by  some 
strange  coincidence,  there  was  standing  a  row  of 
empty  chairs,  and  nodded  cavalierly  to  the  assem- 
blage, which  returned  their  scanty  greeting  with  all 
ceremony. 

"  Have  you  decided  anything  ?  "  a  leader  of  guerril- 
las asked  and  stared  from  face  to  face  with  impatient, 
bloodshot  eyes.  "My  dogs  are  straining  at  the 
leash.  It  will  be  well  to  act  before  they  break  it." 

"  What  would  you  have  me  do  ? "  demanded 
Sariol,  assuming  the  responsibility  his  colleagues  of 
the  Council  had  appeared  to  thrust  upon  him. 
"  While  President  Ybarra  is  in  power  it  is  with  him 
that  we  must  reckon." 


THE  RED   REVOLUTIONISTS        279 

'*  Ybarra  has  absconded  from  his  post,"  the  spokes- 
man answered.  "We  look  to  you,  Don  Quentin 
Sariol,  to  take  his  place — to  remedy  the  evils  he 
has  caused — to  save  our  Fatherland  from  further 
strife  within  its  borders. 

"  If  you  are  man  enough  to  lead,  we  follow;  but — 
we  will  not  wait.  Time  presses,  and  unless  that 
main  point  can  be  settled  here  and  now,  Alta  Cruz 
will  be  sacked  till  nothing  but  the  site  is  left  of  it. 
Speak  up,  senor!  We  lack  a  president  in  this 
Republic.  Will  you  take  office  under  oath  ?  " 

Sariol  sat  and  pondered,  without  speaking.  Now 
that  his  careful  schemes  had  borne  the  fruit  he  had 
hoped  to  pluck,  now  that  the  hour  of  crisis  was  at 
hand,  the  moment  which  meant  everything,  upon 
him,  he  felt  unusually  nervous,  ill  at  ease.  The 
crown  of  his  career  had  been  held  out  to  him,  he 
had  been  urged,  almost  implored  to  take  it. 

He  looked  up  at  the  stained-glass  dome  above  him, 
studied  it  for  an  instant,  and  then  shook  his  head 
with  simple  dignity. 

"I  cannot  step  into  a  friend's  shoes  while  that 
friend  is  absent,"  he  said  in  ringing  tones,  and 
Challoner,  in  turn,  sought  inspiration  in  the  roof- 
light  for  this  change  of  front. 

The  figure  of  Ygnacio  Ybarra  was  outlined  against 
the  glass,  his  face  was  peering  down  upon  the  gather- 
ing below,  a  sneering  smile  that  showed  his  teeth 
between  moustache  and  beard  proclaiming  that  he 
had  at  least  divined  its  purpose. 


280         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

"All  I  can  promise  you,"  said  Sariol  in  a  much 
lower  key,  but  as  though  he  had  seen  nothing,  "  is 
that  the  shoes  in  question  will  be  filled  without  delay. 
Meantime,  you  gentlemen  who  have  attended  us 
under  safe  conduct  will  do  well  to  get  straightway 
beyond  the  walls,  and  at  a  gallop.  I  have  a  tele- 
gram  "  He  fumbled  in  a  pocket  and,  producing 

a  crumpled  sheet,  spoke  still  more  softly  but  with 
warning  emphasis,  "I  have  a  telegram  to  say — to 
say  that  the  senor  Ybarra  is  at  this  moment  on  his 
way  hither  from  the  Golden  Horseshoe.  As  soon 
as  I  have  consulted  with  him  I — I " 

He-  left  his  seat,  and  no  one  needed  any  second 
bidding  to  begone.  The  insurgent  leaders  spurred, 
the  National  Assembly  shuffled  off  on  foot,  and 
scarcely  had  the  echo  of  their  flight  died  down  before 
Ybarra,  with  a  posse  of  life-guards  at  his  back,  was 
standing  at  the  doorway  looking  aggrievedly  into 
the  empty  room. 

Challoner  took  no  chances.  He  waited  where  he 
was,  and  saw  His  Excellency  enter  after  the  soldiers 
had  departed  in  obedience  to  a  sign.  Then  Sariol 
came  in,  his  eyes  fixed  meditatively  upon  the  floor, 
and  when  he  saw  the  other  there,  great  was  his 

j°y- 

"My  dear  Ygnacio!"  he  cried,  coming  forward 
with  outstretched  arms.  "  My  dear  Ygnacio !  This 
is  a  pleasure  long  looked  forward  to.  The  days 
have  dragged  since  we  met  last — and  much  has  hap- 
pened to  make  me  long  for  your  return.  When  did 


THE  RED  REVOLUTIONISTS        281 

you  get  here  ?  What  good  news  have  you  ?  Your 
wife  is  well  ?  And  you  yourself  ?  " 

He  spoke  with  a  most  admirable  air  of  innocent 
astonishment,  and  even  Ybarra  was  in  some  degree 
imposed  upon  by  it. 

"You've  had  a  meeting  here,"  His  Excellency 
said  abruptly,  and  ignoring  altogether  the  other's 
inquiries. 

"  The  rebels  sent  a  deputation  in  to  treat  with  us," 
explained  Don  Quentin  with  ingenious  veracity. 
"They  have  but  this  minute  gone.  They  are  per- 
emptory, Ygnacio.  I  had  to  temporise.  I  told  them 
that  you  would  be  here  anon:  that  until  then 
I  was  without  authority  to  act.  They  threatened 
us  with  consequences,  but — since  you  have  come 
back  there  will  be  security  of  life  and  property  for 
the  loyalists." 

Ybarra  looked  him  up  and  down  admiringly,  as 
though  half  minded  to  compliment  him  on  his 
diplomatic  explanation  of  a  difficult  position,  but 
all  he  said  was,  "Will  you  send  word  to  them  that 
I  am  here,  with  tempting  terms  to  offer  ?  " 

Whatever  disappointment  the  Vice-President  may 
have  experienced  at  his  superior's  acceptance  of  a 
situation  complicated  to  the  last  degree,  he  managed 
to  dissemble  it,  and  took  steps  to  comply  with  the 
charge  laid  on  him,  sending  word  to  the  seething  camp 
without  that  they  must  still  postpone  the  execution 
their  mutual  plan  and  in  its  place  take  part  in 
further  conference. 


282        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

Whereat  the  revolutionary  leaders  cavilled  to  such 
purpose  that  His  Excellency  had  no  option  but  to 
go  with  them — since  they  refused  point  blank  to 
show  sufficient  faith  in  his  safe-conduct  as  regarded 
coming  to  him.  He  went  forth  fearlessly  with  a 
small  escort,  and  unarmed.  The  common  people 
cheered  him  for  his  courage  as  he  passed  towards 
the  gates,  and  Don  Quentin,  left  waiting  in  the 
palace,  cursed  them  for  their  pains.  He  had  to 
learn  yet,  what  Ybarra  knew  full  well,  the  fickleness 
of  popular  allegiance. 

When  the  insurgents  saw  the  Tiger  ride  through 
their  lines  as  calm  and  unconcerned  to  outward 
seeming  as  if  they  had  been  his  best  friends,  they, 
too,  experienced  a  change  of  feeling.  A  single  bul- 
let would  have  rid  them  of  the  burden  they  were  there 
to  strike  from  off  their  shoulders,  but  the  man's  cold 
daring  overawed  them  once  again,  as  it  had  often 
done  before.  They  let  him  pass  unscathed,  and  he 
dismounted  at  the  spot  set  by  their  chiefs  for  the 
conference,  and  these  then  gathered  about  him  with 
grave  courtesy,  so  that  the  opportunity  was  lost. 

His  Excellency's  cue  in  their  case  was  an  easy 
intimacy  such  as,  coming  from  one  of  his  high  station, 
could  not  but  please  them.  He  told  them  frankly, 
if  not  altogether  truthfully,  the  plans  that  he  had 
laid  for  the  salvation  of  their  common  country  by 
means  of  an  alliance  with  his  wealthy  cousin.  He 
multiplied  her  fortune  many  times  and  turned  it  into 
local  currency  for  their  edification.  They  gasped 


THE   RED  REVOLUTIONISTS        283 

with  impotent  astonishment  at  the  idea  that  a  mere 
woman  should  have  sole  control  of  such  unbounded 
wealth.  He  pointed  out  to  them  how  they  had 
hampered  him,  by  their  ill-advised  manoeuvres  in 
his  attempt  to  bring  the  matter  to  a  head ;  how  they 
had  interfered  at  every  turn  to  his  discomfiture  and 
therefore  to  the  advantage  of  those  foreigners  who 
had  been  bold  enough  to  desecrate  the  sacred  soil  of 
San  Benito,  bearing  weapons.  He  played  upon  their 
childishly  perverted  patriotism  until  they  were  ready 
to  apologise  for  all  their  actions,  and  ended  with  a 
plausible  appeal  for  their  assistance  to  undo  the 
evils  they  themselves  had  wrought,  of  course,  un- 
wittingly. 

When  he  had  finished  he  drew  back  a  little  that 
they  might  discuss  the  case  in  all  its  aspects  among 
themselves,  and  made  some  further  friends  among 
the  rank  and  file  grouped  in  the  background.  His 
careless  bonhomie  charmed  the  cut -throat  scoundrels 
who  had  swarmed  to  swell  the  forces  of  rebellion; 
his  hints  of  a  congenial  opening  for  their  talents, 
subject  only  to  their  leaders'  full  concurrence,  in- 
flamed their  curiosity,  tantalised  them,  gave  them 
good  cause  to  wonder  whether  they  were  wise  to 
work  while  there  was  money  to  be  made  at  play  such 
as  he  vaguely  outlined. 

A  murmur  of  approval  followed  him  as  he  rejoined 
the  conclave  he  had  left,  and  his  eyes  narrowed  with 
an  inward  merriment  over  the  ease  wherewith  he 
was  shaping  their  rude  wills  towards  his  own  ends. 


284         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

A  provisional  capitulation  was  the  present  out- 
come of  his  talent  for  intrigue.  Where  there  was 
money  to  be  made  the  revolutionists  were  foster- 
brothers  of  the  loyalist  party.  The  President  might 
rest  assured  that  they  would  aid  him  to  the  uttermost 
in  his  attempt  to  snatch  such  a  prize  as  the  dona 
Beatrix  Ybarra  from  the  grasp  of  a  greedy  alien. 
Her  bounden  duty  was  to  marry  him,  and  so  enrich 
her  native  land.  Since  she  had  proven  contumelious 
they  would  interfere  on  his  behalf. 

And  that  was  all  he  wanted  with  them. 

"The  American  and  the  two  women  with  him 
must  be  in  hiding  somewhere  between  here  and  the 
Pass,"  he  said  with  certainty.  "In  any  case  they 
cannot  cross  the  Summit,  which  is  guarded.  If 
you  will  scour  the  country  till  you  capture  them  I'll 
send  a  fresh  force  to  retake  the  hacienda — you  have 
heard,  no  doubt,  that  I  had  too  few  men  for  that  ? 
Some  of  you  may  remember  the  old  stories  of  the 
hidden  treasure  there— of  the  church  plate  which 
disappeared  when  the  heathen  tribes  sacked  the 
mission  as  it  was  then.  It  was  all  gold,  pure  gold, 
and  of  incalculable  value.  I  have  discovered  its 
strange  hiding-place,  and,  once  we  have  achieved 
success,  all  who  take  part  in  either  expedition  will 
be  entitled  to  an  equal  share " 

"Viva  Ybarra!"  shouted  a  swart  mountaineer  to 
whom  the  oft-told  legend  of  the  Golden  Horseshoe 
was  as  gospel.  A  dozen  more  took  up  the  cry,  a 
score,  a  hundred,  every  man  there.  The  Tiger 


THE  RED  REVOLUTIONISTS        285 

mounted  and  rode  off  to  be  acclaimed  again  through- 
out the  streets  and  at  the  palace-entrance,  where  he 
was  welcomed  back  by  the  Vice -President,  who 
wore  a  somewhat  sickly  smile. 

Don  Quentin  Sariol  had  played  one  of  the  highest 
trumps  he  held  in  his  hand,  but  his  finesse  had  not 
availed  against  his  adversary. 

Alta  Cruz  was  astir  with  excitement  and  surmise. 
About  the  bivouacs  beyond  its  gates  there  was 
great  bustle  and  confusion.  The  factions  which, 
but  an  hour  before,  would  have  flown  at  each  other's 
throats  were  fraternising  like  friends  long  separated. 
Ybarra's  fresh  device  had  certainly  saved  a  difficult 
situation,  although  at  the  expense  of  the  Vice- 
President's  private  plans.  That  discomfited  plotter 
retired  to  his  own  apartment  in  the  palace,  there  to 
ponder  over  his  own  delicate  position,  the  best  way 
out  of  it. 

And  neither  of  the  two  principals  in  the  game 
whose  stakes  were  life  and  death  took  any  notice 
of  Challoner  looking  on.  That  observant  student 
of  chance  had  followed  unperceived  when  the  Presi- 
dent went  forth  to  interview  the  insurgents.  From 
them  he  afterwards  learned  all  that  had  passed, 
and  he  observed  on  his  own  behalf  the  active  prep- 
arations going  forward  for  the  despatch  of  re- 
inforcements to  the  force  besieging  the  Golden 
Horseshoe*  of  a  search-party  on  Corbyn's  trail. 

He  did  not  deem  it  advisable  to  run  the  risks 
attendant  on  a  return  to  his  temporary  domicile 


286         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

within  the  city,  but  made  for  his  motor-bicycle 
concealed  in  a  safe  place  at  the  side  of  the  road  to 
the  sea,  and  departed  for  La  Boca  with  much  chug- 
chugging.  So  that  Manhattan  heard  in  due  course 
how  the  President  of  San  Benito  had  come  out  of 
his  retirement  and  once  more  taken  up  the  reins 
of  misgovernment.  And  Washington  was  able  to 
assure  all  whom  it  might  concern  that  there  would 
be  no  immediate  need  for  the  fast  cruisers  which 
had  innocently  congregated  among  the  islands  to 
the  north  of  that  most  turbulent  Republic. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

YBARRA'S  DOWNFALL 

WHEN  Allardyce  had  seen  the  torn  silk  envelope 
of  the  balloon  among  the  litter  of  extraordinary  odds 
and  ends  which  lay  about  the  barns  wherein  Ybarra 
had  been  wont  to  diveri  himself  during  his  leisure 
moments  with  pseudo-scientific  playthings,  he  had 
been  at  a  loss  to  know  by  what  means  an  ascent 
had  been  possible  where  there  was  no  gas  to  be  count- 
ed on  for  inflating  it.  But  he  had  not  failed  to  realise 
the  possible  importance  of  his  find,  and  his  next 
discovery  had  solved  the  difficulty.  In  the  steel 
cylinders  stacked  opposite  there  were  dry  chemicals 
which,  under  heat,  would  give  off  vapour  volatile 
enough  to  render  flight  quite  feasible,  although  at 
the  gravest  risk. 

Allardyce  had  had  experience  at  Aldershot  with 
a  balloon  corps.  He  called  Corbyn's  attention  to 
his  find  and  Corbyn  quickly  grasped  its  salient 
features.  They  cast  their  calculations  into  many 
points  of  decimals  and  Corbyn  set  the  two  girls  to 
sew  the  rents  in  the  silk.  When  the  time  came, 
Allardyce  brewed  with  extreme  caution  the  danger- 
ous ether  on  which  they  must  depend  for  lack  of 
safer  medium. 

287 


288         THE   GOLDEN  HORSESHOE 

Escape  by  such  means  was  the  last  and  a  most 
desperate  resource.  But  for  the  sake  of  the  girls 
escape  was  imperative.  Corbyn  would  have  sent 
Allardyce  with  them,  but  against  that  the  English- 
man mutinied  flatly.  His  place  was  with  those 
for  whom  there  was  no  escape,  Corbyn's  with 
Beatriz.  And,  since  it  was  so  settled,  Corbyn  set  out 
with  a  stout  heart,  putting  his  trust  in  Providence 
and  a  determination  to  succeed  in  spite  of  every 
obstacle. 

The  start  was  none  too  auspicious.  The  weight 
in  the  car  and  beneath  it  kept  them  from  rising 
sufficiently  in  that  rare  atmosphere.  They  were  too 
low  down  to  cross  with  any  assurance  of  safety  the 
guarded  ridge  towards  which  they  were  drifting  on 
a  dying  wind. 

Schweitzer's  infernal  marksmanship  was  what  he 
feared  most,  and  how  to  baffle  that  without  the  aid 
of  circumstances  he  did  not  know. 

The  blast  of  a  bugle  floated  clearly  upwards  from 
the  enemy's  camp  and  he  turned  to  Beatriz  sitting 
behind  him,  her  eyes  on  his  every  movement. 

"We'll  have  to  jettison  the  last  ounce  of  our 
outfit,"  he  said  swiftly.  "I  can't  well  drop  your 
cousin  here — it  would  be  murder  at  this  height. 
But  all  we  can  throw  out  must  go."  One  after 
another  he  sent  overside  the  almost  indispensable 
provisions  he  had  made  for  the  girls'  comfort,  and 
with  that  the  great  sphere  rose  a  few  feet.  At  last 
and  most  reluctantly  he  had  to  rid  himself  even 


YBARRA'S  DOWNFALL  289 

of  the  three  rifles  and  the  ammunition  on  which  he 
had  depended  for  his  last  stand,  should  matters 
reach  that  stage.  And  with  it  all  they  were  still 
within  short  range  of  the  guns. 

A  purl  of  air  set  them  a-stagger  as  a  shell  shrieked 
past,  but  Schweitzer  had  not  set  his  time-fuse  as 
he  ought  and  it  burst  far  beyond  them.  A  second 
followed  and  went  wide.  Corbyn  could  see  men 
with  shovels  digging  behind  the  gun-trails  to  get 
elevation  for  the  muzzles.  Pale-faced  but  silent, 
he  was  leaning  with  folded  arms  on  the  basket-edge, 
and  he  did  not  draw  back  when  a  third  shot  swept 
closely  by,  so  closely  that  his  hair  stirred  in  its 
angry  breath. 

The  globe  above  rocked  drunkerily  and  sank  still 
lower  as  they  approached  the  ridge,  where  they  were 
greeted  with  a  wild  rifle-fire. 

Ybarra,  tied  fast  underfoot,  gave  vent  to  an  irre- 
pressible yell  when  a  stray  bullet  chipped  white 
splinters  off  the  canework  close  to  his  head.  But 
otherwise  he  made  no  protest  as  to  his  very  un- 
pleasant position,  and  soon  they  were  immediately 
over  the  camp. 

The  cold,  clear  moonlight  showed  the  gunners 
shifting  their  pieces  round,  and  Corbyn  knew  that, 
once  they  got  trajectory  to  the  north,  it  would  be 
easy  for  them  to  achieve  their  object.  The  time 
had  come  for  him  to  avail  himself  of  his  ultimate 
resource. 

"Sit  tight,"  he  said  over  his  shoulder.  "There 
19 


290         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

will  be  an  explosion  underneath  us  in  a  moment. 
Don't  be  afraid." 

Then,  with  an  inward  prayer,  he  dropped  the  phial 
he  had  been  holding  to  his  thumping  heart  since 
Allardyce  had  handed  it  to  him  with  a  whispered 
caution  when  they  had  started,  narrowed  his  eyelids, 
and  clutched  very  nervously  at  the  guy-rope  beside 
him.  If  the  explosive  gas  caught  light  now 

A  curtain  of  white  flame  spread  suddenly  between 
the  car  and  those  on  solid  earth.  The  crash  that 
followed  was  as  that  of  a  thunderbolt.  The  ball 
of  the  balloon  rebounded  over  it  and  it  seemed  as 
though  the  thin  silk  must  surely  burst  under  the 
pressure  ere  they  shot  upwards  with  a  sickening  jerk, 
enveloped  in  a  thin,  acrid  vapour  through  which 
they  could  hear  Ybarra  coughing  like  a  consump- 
tive. 

Corbyn,  breathing  through  contracted  nostrils, 
jerkily,  peered  through  it  all  until  he  saw  the  full 
effect  of  his  bomb.  And  presently  he  turned  once 
more  inwards  to  assure  the  trembling  pair  crouched 
in  a  corner  of  the  car  that  they  were  out  of  all  im- 
mediate danger. 

"Schweitzer  will  worry  us  no  more,"  he  said  in 
tones  which  shook  despite  his  efforts  to  speak 
steadily.  But  that  he  had  been  imperatively  forced 
to  employ  such  means  of  dispersing  the  enemy  he 
would  have  scrupled  to  do  so.  The  tiny  flask  had 
wrought  heart-breaking  havoc  among  them,  whole- 
sale destruction.  Where  but  a  moment  before  there 


YBARRA'S  DOWNFALL  291 

had  been  the  gun-pits,  alive  with  men,  lay  a  dark, 
gaping  chasm  in  which  there  was  no  more  move- 
ment. 

The  artificial  impetus  they  had  acquired  carried 
them  to  a  height  whereat  there  was  no  fear  of  further 
trouble  from  the  survivors  further  along  the  ridge, 
and  there  an  upper  current  of  air  caught  them,  and 
carried  them  northwards  in  the  direction  of  Alta 
Cruz. 

Corbyn  looked  back  at  the  Golden  Horseshoe, 
black  and  silver  in  that  light  against  the  mountain- 
side, and  sighed  to  think  of  all  that  might  yet  happen 
there  before  he  should  be  able  to  return  to  the  rescife 
of  his  comrades.  And  his  two  charges,  overhearing 
him,  tried  hard  to  pluck  up  heart  for  his  sake. 

Both  had  been  very  gently  nurtured.  The  scenes 
of  death  and  desolation  they  had  witnessed  could 
not  but  have  affected  them  most  hurtfully.  But 
both  were  brave  enough  to  put  the  past  with  all  its 
horrors  out  of  their  minds  and  memories  for  the 
present. 

They  were  soon  chatting  quite  contentedly,  and 
Corbyn  found  comfort  inexpressible  in  their  calm 
courage. 

He  helped  them  to  their  feet  and  they  looked  out 
upon  a  panorama  unforgettable :  a  white  world,  far 
away  and  very  lovely,  flooded  with  tender  radiance, 
and  only  bounded  by  the  cloud-capped  bulk  behind 
them,  the  distant  mountain-range  between  them 
and  the  sea.  Its  heart  was  the  dream-city  of  the 


292         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

golden  spires,  sparkling  in  the  mid-distance  like  a 
frost-diamond  set  with  pearls. 

"How  perfect!"  Beatriz  said  softly,  and  Corbyn 
laid  a  hand  on  hers.  "We've  caught  a  glimpse  of 
Heaven  together,  sweetheart,"  he  whispered  in  her 
ear.  She  nodded,  and  her  fingers  closed  on  his. 
Her  heaven  was  with  him. 

But  more  material  affairs  demanded  his  attention 
before  long.  They  had  not  escaped  scatheless  from 
the  fusillade  directed  at  them  as  they  had  crossed 
the  ridge.  Gas  was  escaping  somewhere,  and, 
when  he  clambered  clumsily  into  the  netting  while 
the  girls  closed  their  eyes  in  sick  fear  for  his  safety, 
he  found  that  more  than  one  of  the  nickel-nosed 
bullets  had  pierced  the  cover.  These  had  cut 
cleanly  through,  leaving  small  punctures  which  it 
was  difficult  to  locate,  but  he  succeeded  in  effecting 
such  repairs  as  stopped  the  outflow  to  some  extent, 
and  with  that  had  to  rest  satisfied. 

They  had  descended  imperceptibly  to  a  stratum 
where  the  atmosphere  was  almost  stagnant,  and 
hung  there  immobile  until  the  breeze  that  would 
bring  daybreak  began  to  blow  down  from  the  moun- 
tains, driving  them  once  more  on  their  way.  The 
moon  had  set.  Only  a  few  faint  misty  lights  showed 
through  the  dark  from  where  Alta  Cruz  lay.  It 
was  evident  that  they  would  cross  the  city  at  an  alti- 
tude which  would  preserve  them  from  all  fears  of 
interference  even  in  daylight  and,  though  their 
course  was  sloping  gradually  earthwards,  Corbyn 


YBARRA'S   DOWNFALL  293 

hoped  that  his  next  step  would  help  them  high 
enough  to  surmount  the  final  barrier  between  them 
and  the  coast,  the  heights  above  La  Boca. 

As  they  drew  nearer  the  lights  beneath  he  busied 
himself  with  a  coil  of  cordage  over  the  basket-edge, 
and,  when  he  had  laid  that  to  his  liking,  leaned  out 
to  advise  the  President  of  his  purpose. 

"Ybarra!"  he  called  loudly,  and  from  beneath 
his  feet  came  the  unwilling  answer,  "I'm  still  here." 

"We  must  part  company  at  this  point,"  said 
Corbyn  pleasantly. 

"  WThat  are  you  going  to  do  ? "  the  voice  below 
asked. 

"  I'm  going  to  drop  you  at  the  capital." 

A  long  and  pregnant  silence,  broken  defiantly 
by  the  bound  and  helpless  prisoner : 

"  If  you  expect  me  to  ask  mercy,  you're  mistaken. 
You  think  I  am  at  heart  a  coward,  American  dog! 
Drop  me.  I  will  not  whimper." 

Corbyn  bit  his  lip  and  seemed  about  to  speak 
again.  The  imputation  was  an  unpleasant  one. 
But  he  changed  his  mind. 

He  cut  the  canvas  slings  which  laced  his  enemy 
securely  into  place,  slacked  off  the  rope  until  that 
dogged  evil-doer  hung  suspended  twenty  feet  below, 
tugged  at  the  light  line  with  which  he  had  tied  the 
other's  wrists  behind  him. 

"  Are  your  hands  free  ?  "  he  shouted  'sharply,  and, 
since  no  response  was  vouchsafed  him,  satisfied 
himself  on  that  point  with  a  hasty  glance. 


294        THE   GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

With  his  knife  he  slashed  through  the  last  connect- 
ing link  between  himself  and  the  contrivance  tied 
underneath,  and,  looking  hastily  overside,  saw  a 
rapidly  diminishing  black  speck  shoot  like  a  plummet 
earthwards  through  the  dim  gloom.  He  drew  a 
sharp  breath  of  relief  as  it  was  shut  out  of  sight  by 
a  more  bulky  body. 

'*  Time  and  no  more,"  he  communed  with  himself, 
and  said  aloud.  "  He's  all  right,  sweetheart.  Come 
here  and  see  the  parachute  descend." 

"  Is  he  quite  safe,  Phil  ?  "  Beatriz  asked  anxiously, 
as  she  looked  down,  her  lover's  arm  about  her. 

"  Safe  as  a  house,"  he  answered  heartily.  "  There 
would  be  much  more  risk  he  were  a  better 
man.'* 

Thus  relieved  of  so  much  dead  weight,  they  soared 
aloft  again  with  renewed  buoyancy  and  an  hour 
later  the  sun's  rays,  expanding  what  gas  there  was 
left,  helped  them  to  hold  the  advantage  for  a  time. 
But  up  above  they  entered  a  colder  current  from  off 
the  snow-line  and  dropped  from  that  at  dangerous 
velocity. 

Do  what  he  would,  Corbyn  could  not  devise  effec- 
tual means  to  stop  the  leakage,  and  it  was  all  too 
obvious  that  they  must  make  such  landing  as  they 
might  upon  the  pla;n  between  Alta  Cruz  and  the 
Pass,  where  the;r  plight  would  be  worse  than 
unenviable. 

It  was  by  no  means  enviable  now,  hung  up  there 
without  food  or  water,  under  a  scorching  sun. 


YBARRA'S  DOWNFALL  295 

"I  think  we'd  better  get  to  ground,"  he  said  with 
sudden  resolution,  and  released  the  escape-valve. 
"We'll  have  a  good  chance  of  hiding  at  any  rate, 
while,  if  we  stay  here  too  long,  they'll  be  below  ready 
to  net  us  when  we  do  come  down." 

The  shrunken  sphere  did  not  require  much  empty- 
ing. He  closed  the  valve  again  and  checked  their 
fall  so  that  they  came  quite  softly  to  the  tree-tops  of 
the  forest  he  had  aimed  at  entering,  a  dry  and  sapless- 
looking  wilderness  of  gnarled  tree-trunks  roofed 
with  red,  rusty  leaves. 

Through  a  great  crash  of  breaking  branches  they 
reached  momentary  safety,  scrambling  breathlessly 
clear  of  the  plunging  car. 

Corbyn  slit  the  silk  here  and  there  so  that  the  gas 
remaining  might  escape,  and  all  they  left  behind 
them  when  they  started  off  on  foot  was  the  torn 
basket  and  the  empty  bag  of  the  balloon. 

"Until  they  find  that  they  can't  start  upon  our 
trail,"  he  said  encouragingly,  "and  it  will  take  some 
finding  in  this  wilderness. 

"  Now  for  a  drink  of  water,  eh,  Fifi  ?  And  then 
we'll  make  a  move  towards  the  coast." 

Fifi  smiled  wistfully,  but  did  not  answer.  She 
had  been  suffering  agonies  of  thirst ;  her  parched  and 
swollen  lips  refused  to  speak  for  her. 

It  did  not  take  them  long,  however,  to  reach  the 
stream  Corbyn  had  been  able  to  forecast  from  over- 
head by  studying  the  foliage.  A  green  glade  ran 
right  through  the  heart  of  the  sere  desert,  and  by  the 


296         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

compass  at  his  belt  they  made  their  way  in  its  direc- 
tion. 

Fifi  ran  forward  when  she  heard  the  first  faint 
echo  of  the  rivulet  to  which  the  forest  had  owed  its 
being,  and,  when  the  others  reached  her,  she  was 
kneeling  with  wet  lips  beside  a  crystal  pool,  her 
attitude  expressive  of  the  thankfulness  she  felt. 

Corbyn  saw  then  how  worn  and  heavy-eyed  she 
was,  and  his  heart  smote  him.  Beatriz  also  was  show- 
ing signs  of  the  strain  they  had  been  suffering  since 
they  had  started. 

Food  there  was  none,  but  surely,  he  thought,  they 
might  rest  for  a  brief  hour. 

"We'll  stay  here  for  a  time,"  he  told  them,  and 
they  threw  themselves  down  wearily  without  a  word. 
But  for  himself  there  was  no  rest  possible. 

He  took  liis  bearings  with  exactitude,  and  left 
them  for  a  short  space  that  he  might  climb  a  bluff 
above  and  thence  lay  the  course  they  must  follow. 
It  cost  him  twenty  minutes  to  climb  high  enough, 
and  there  he  spent  ten  more  making  a  rough  sketch- 
map  of  the  country  which  stretched  between  him  and 
the  sea-range.  It  would  be  very  dangerous  to  stray 
from  the  due  route. 

Then  he  caught  sight  of  a  cloud  of  dust  close  to 
Alta  Cruz,  and,  training  his  glasses  on  it,  gathered 
that  the  pursuit  was  in  full  cry  already. 

He  waited  only  to  make  sure  that  they  were  well 
enough  aware  of  the  balloon's  descent  to  start  the 
search  within  the  forest  and  then  went  stumbling 


YBARRA'S   DOWNFALL  297 

downwards  at  his  best  speed,  keeping  to  the  high 
bank  above  the  stream  instead  of  following  its  bed 
as  he  had  done  on  the  way  up,  so  that  he  saw  no  sign 
of  the  two  men  who  were  tracing  so  carefully,  step 
by  step,  the  few  faint  signs  of  his  ascent. 

And  when  he  got  back  to  the  spot  where  he  had 
left  the  two  girls,  it  was  empty. 

His  heart  stood  still  and  his  face  turned  grey 
through  its  tan.  With  frenzied  haste  he  verified 
the  fact  that  he  was  not  mistaken  as  to  the  locality. 
The  leaves  that  they  had  lain  on  still  bore  the  faint 
impress  of  their  forms.  Indentations  in  the  softer 
soil  proclaimed  that  many  other  feet  than  theirs  had 
trod  it  recently. 

He  groaned  aloud  in  his  agony,  not  knowing  where 
to  turn  first.  It  took  him  precious  time  to  find 
which  way  their  kidnappers  had  come  and  whither 
gone.  And,  while  he  followed  frantically  the  true 
trail,  he  heard  the  chase  so  close  that  he  knew  it 
must  have  discovered  the  balloon  already. 

A  yell  of  triumph  gave  conclusive  evidence  of 
that,  and  he  turned  back  with  blazing  eyes,  a  last 
despairing  project  in  his  mind. 

He  crossed  the  stream  again,  ran  through  the 
green  grove  on  its  banks  to  where  the  thicket  lay 
all  dry  and  brown  and  rotten. 

A  little  pile  of  dead  leaves  served  his  purpose.  He 
put  a  match  to  them,  and,  in  an  instant,  they  caught 
light,  blazed  up,  sent  tongues  of  flame  into  the 
tangle  fronting  them. 


298         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

Once  up-hill  and  once  down  did  he  repeat  the 
process,  and  when  he  once  more  turned  back  to 
pursue  his  own  path,  there  was  an  almost  smokeless 
screen  of  fire  between  him  and  his  enemies — a 
screen  which  spread  and  broadened  until  those  in 
front  of  it  became  aware  that  the  strange  roaring 
they  could  hear  up-wind  presaged  a  forest  fire,  and 
got  to  horse  again  and  fled  in  fear  before  it ;  leaving 
beyond  the  green  embattlement  about  the  rivulet 
the  man  they  had  come  there  to  seek. 

Satisfied  that  he  had  thus  stopped  them  for  the 
moment,  Corbyn  broke  back  to  where  the  dim 
foot-prints  turned  and  twisted  through  the  under- 
growth and  northwards.  He  lost  them  frequently, 
found  them  again,  and  struggled  on  in  a  hot  fuiy 
of  determination  that  only  death  should  daunt  him 
in  his  quest. 

He  blamed  himself  most  bitterly  for  the  misfortune 
which  had  thus  befallen,  was  ready  to  make  restitu- 
tion to  the  uttermost. 

Thorns  and  projecting  branches  tore  his  uniform, 
scratching  his  face  and  hands  till  the  blood  flowed. 
He  tripped  and  fell  and  rose  again,  dusty,  dishevelled, 
sweating  at  every  pore. 

His  lungs  were  clogged  and  heavy,  he  could  scarce- 
ly see.  And,  when  a  band  of  men  sprang  suddenly 
upon  him  from  both  sides,  he  was  in  no  case  to  with- 
stand them. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  BELLS  TOLL  BACKWARDS 

WHILE  Meggs  and  O'Dare  and  Allardyce  stood 
on  the  edge  of  the  plateau  watching  the  balloon 
drift  towards  the  ridge,  they  suffered  even  more  than 
did  those  who  were  travelling  in  it  through  the  danger 
zone. 

Dennis  O'Dare's  heart  sank  till  he  felt  physically 
sick  at  thought  of  Fifi's  peril  when  the  first  gun  was 
fired,  and  not  until  the  flask  of  picric  fell  among  the 
enemy  did  they  dare  to  assume  that  their  friends  had 
the  slightest  chance  of  getting  through  unscathed. 
But  after  that,  and  when  they  saw  the  great  gas-bag 
leap  upwards  unhurt  on  the  atmospheric  wave 
caused  by  the  explosion,  their  apprehensions  gave 
place  to  a  grave  elation,  the  other  two  congratulating 
Allardyce  on  the  forethought  which  had  provided 
for  such  eventuality. 

"We  owed  old  Schweitzer  one,"  said  that  youth 
modestly,  "and  Corbyn's  paid  it  for  us  at  his  own 
risk.  He's  safely  started  now,  though,  and  the 
sooner  we  find  some  way  to  follow  him  the  better 
for  all  of  us. 

"  What  we've  got  to  consider  first  is  how  to  handle 
299 


300         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

the  wounded.  But  for  them  we  might  have  made 
a  dash  for  it  behind  the  bomb." 

"  With  twenty-four  hours'  rest  they  will  be  fit  to 
travel,"  asserted  Meggs.  "They're  all  sound  in 
the  legs  at  any  rate." 

"  They're  a  great-hearted  lot  of  boys ! "  said  O'Dare 
emphatically.  "  Two  or  three  of  the  worst  hit  told 
me  they'd  stay  behind  and  take  their  chances  rather 
than  keep  the  others  back.  But  we'll  get  all  that's 
left  safe  home,  please  God." 

"We  must  get  out  of  this  at  any  rate,"  Allardyce 
put  in.  "The  well's  been  bone-dry  since  the  dis- 
turbance underground,  and  the  few  bucketfuls  of 
water  I  could  save  won't  last  us  long  even  on  half- 
rations.  "If  we  could  only  land  beyond  the  ridge 
and  pick  some  horses  up " 

They  turned  back  towards  the  hacienda,  there  to 
spend  the  night  cudgelling  their  brains  for  some 
scheme  of  escape. 

The  hours  passed  without  active  incident,  and  all 
next  day  they  watched  and  waited  for  the  final  as- 
sault they  feared  but  which  did  not  come :  and  made 
such  preparation  as  they  might  for  the  sortie  they 
had  decided  on  as  the  upshot  of  their  discussion. 

Such  ammunition  as  was  left  among  them  they 
divided  equally.  Their  scant  supplies  of  food  and 
water  were  devoted  chiefly  to  the  invalids.  They 
laid  fires  to  be  lit  at  dark  in  order  to  deceive  the 
enemy.  And  Allardyce  contrived,  with  weights 
and  cords  and  torches,  an  ingenious  device  by  means 


of  which  shots  might  be  fired  at  intervals  for  some 
time  after  they  should  have  left,  from  the  otherwise 
unserviceable  rifles  they  had  found  among  the  dead 
two  days  before. 

Towards  dusk,  however,  they  became  aware  of  a 
fresh  stir  within  the  distant  camp  which  had  lain 
in  such  quietude  since  morning;  and,  with  their 
glasses,  watched  the  arrival  there  from  Alta  Cruz  of 
ft  field  column  fit  to  face  an  army  corps. 

"They  honour  us,"  said  Meggs  contemptuously 
as  they  saw  the  last  company  march  in.  "We're 
only  nineteen  strong,  and  they  seem  to  have  sent 
half  the  population  of  the  Republic  up  to  tackle  us." 

"So  much  the  better  for  us  after  we  get  past 
them,"  AUardyce  responded  cheerfully.  But  for 
all  his  brave  words  his  heart  was  heavy.  What 
possible  chance  could  nineteen  men  have  against 
such  odds  ? 

"  I  don't  think  they'll  attack  to-night,"  he  added. 
"  Their  reinforcements  must  have  had  a  hardish  day 
of  it  if  they've  come  from  the  capital. 

"But  all  the  same  I  think  we  should  slip  out  in 
good  time.  There's  no  use  waiting  until  they  sur- 
round us  and  then  trying  to  escape. 

"  I'll  take  a  stroll  down  to  the  tunnel-mouth  and 
see  if  all's  clear  there.  Then,  if  you  both  agree  with 
me,  we'd  better  start  right  off,  before  the  moon 
comes  over  the  mountain." 

"  I'll  go  below  with  you,"  Meggs  said,  "  and  Denny 
can  keep  watch  till  we  get  back." 


302         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

They  went  away  together,  through  the  chapel  and 
the  crypt,  into  the  long,  dark  passage,  which  was 
strangely  warm. 

At  the  pit-mouth  they  stopped  to  peer  down,  and 
Allardyce  uttered  a  startled  exclamation. 

"  Gad !  Jerry,"  he  ejaculated.  "  There  seems  to  be 
something  wrong  here,  or  else  my  eyesight's  failing. 

The  darkness  looks  too  solid  to "  He  bent 

above  the  opening  and  let  fall  a  stone.  A  little  spurt 
of  liquid  rose  immediately  below  them  and  splashed 
back.  A  ripple  overspread  the  blackness. 

"It's  water,"  Meggs  cried,  and  they  looked  at 
each  other  with  startled  eyes. 

"It  must  have  been  Denny's  tampering  with  the 
arrangements  underground,"  he  suggested  more 
slowly.  "The  well's  closed,  and  the  water's  rising 
here. 

"  And  there  must  be  a  stream  behind  it  to  force 
it  up,  Allardyce.  What  if  it's  cut  the  conduit  to 
the  reservoir!" 

"This  must  be  where  the  heat  is  coming  from," 
his  friend  said  in  an  anxious  voice.  "  We've  struck 
a  hot-pipe — and  it's  going  to  flood  this  passage 
presently.  Think  of  the  rate  it  must  be  rising  at  to 
have  filled  this  great  bottle  since  we  were  here  last. 

"  Then,  when  the  outlet's  choked,  it  will  boil  over 
or  burst  through  into  the  fire  beneath — in  which 
case  there  will  be  a  bad  blow-up  somewhere.  We'll 
have  to  get  a  move  on,  Jerry,  if  we  don't  want  to  be 
scalded !" 


THE  BELLS   TOLL  BACKWARDS     303 

They  turned  back  to  the  chapel  without  delay  and 
sent  out  a  hurry-call  for  O'Dare;  bade  the  men 
there  make  all  speed  to  the  stables,  and,  as  soon  as 
the  wondering  Dennis  had  joined  them  with  his  sen- 
tries, followed  without  loss  of  time,  leaving  the 
watch-fires  burning,  their  house  in  order. 

Even  as  they  crept  round  the  gallery  at  the  pit- 
mouth,  they  could  see  steam  rising  from  the  nearer 
surface,  which  bade  fair  to  overflow  before  they  could 
win  clear  of  the  tunnel. 

A  hasty  recount  within  the  empty  stables  showed 
that  they  were  all  there,  however,  and  they  crept 
away  through  the  darkness  in  Indian  file,  Meggs 
and  Allardyce  at  the  head  of  the  hasty  procession, 
O'Dare  shepherding  the  rear. 

The  leaders  bore  to  the  left,  where  an  old  maize 
plantation  might  afford  them  cover  of  some  sort 
among  the  trampled  stalks.  They  skirted  that  to  its 
extremity,  and  cut  at  a  right  angle  along  its  base 
towards  the  vertical  wall  of  rock  which  gave  the 
Horseshoe  shape. 

The  jingle  of  cavalry  accoutrements  came  from 
afar  to  their  ears,  and,  with  a  whisper  down  the 
line,  they  dived  back  into  concealment,  lay  down, 
with  carbines  ready. 

A  strong  patrol  went  past  at  a  walk  and  stopped 
close  by.  It  stayed  there  for  a  space,  the  troopers 
talking  in  low  tones  but  loud  enough  to  overhear. 

Allardyce  gathered  from  their  chance  conversation 
that  Corbyn  had  crossed  Alta  Cruz,  but  had  been 


304         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

captured  on  the  other  side.  And  that  the  rampant 
Tiger  was  once  more  in  power.  He  heard  them 
curse  their  superiors  for  the  unnecessary  watchfulness 
displayed  at  this  late  date;  assert  with  blasphemy 
that  there  was  no  chance  of  the  remaining  prisoners 
within  the  Horseshoe  winning  escape;  and  declare 
their  absolute  indifference  as  to  such  a  detail  while 
there  was  treasure  waiting  to  be  won  on  the 
plateau. 

A  little  later  they  went  their  way,  amd  the  silent 
watchers  withdrew  the  fingers  that  had  been  lying 
alongside  trigger-guards. 

The  moon  rose  ere  these  fugitives  had  reached  the 
shadow  of  the  encircling  precipice,  and,  as  its  light 
swept  the  great  plain  before  them,  they  saw  for 
themselves  that  they  had  got  away  in  time  and  no 
more. 

The  army  of  the  ridge  was  crossing  it  in  extended 
order  towards  the  hacienda.  The  patrol  they  had 
passed  was  part  of  its  half-moon  formation.  All 
had  been  carefully  planned  for  the  final,  decisive 
struggle. 

With  such  incentive  to  spur  them  on  they  made 
good  speed. 

"Those  fellows  weren't  troopers  of  the  forces," 
Allardyce  whispered  breathlessly  by  the  way  to 
Meggs.  "  The  revolution  has  joined  forces  with  the 
Government,  it  seems,  at  this  stage  of  the  game. 
Ybarra's  offered  them  the  treasure  in  the  pit  as  a 
prize  if  they  retake  the  hacienda,  and  I  don't  think 


there  will  be  many  left  upon  the  ridge  with  that  loot 
waiting. 

"  What  do  you  say  if  we  try  the  water-gate  ? " 

"  That  was  nay  idea,"  Meggs  answered,  chuckling, 
"  I  hope  they  have  some  divers  with  them  this  time, 
Allardyce.  And  even  then  they  will  have  difficulty 
in  plumbing  the  pit." 

They  reached  the  reservoir,  and  found  it  almost 
dry,  with  an  open  sluice. 

"The  careless  dog!"  said  AUardyce  disgustedly. 
"  There  doesn't  seem  to  be  a  soldier  left  among  them 
since  Von  Rudolf  died,  poor  fellow!  And  as  for 
discipline — I'll  bet  the  guard's  gone  off  to  join  the 
pillagers.  Gad!  won't  they  look  sick  when  they 
find  what's  waiting  them!" 

It  turned  out  even  as  he  had  predicted.  No  one 
denied  them  entrance  to  the  empty  river-bed,  down 
which  they  scrambled,  and  at  the  exit  they  found 
but  a  dying  fire  in  token  that  the  watch  which  had 
been  stationed  there  had  not  been  able  to  resist  the 
temptation  to  join  the  treasure-seekers. 

They  passed  the  spot  where  they  had  left  their 
horses,  and  which  was  also  empty,  swore  softly  over 
that  loss,  and  pursued  their  way  on  foot  until  it  seemed 
that  they  might  safely  call  a  halt  to  ease  their  labour- 
ing lungs.  Whereafter  they  pushed  on  for  a  time  in 
proper  military  order,  with  scouts  and  point  and 
rear-guard  of  able  men,  the  main  body  invalids. 

These  last  were  making  valiant  efforts  to  keep 
pace  with  their  more  fortunate  fellows,  but  before 
2* 


306        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

long  O'Dare  had  to  send  word  towards  the  front  that 
one  or  two  were  lagging.  Allardyce  was  at  point, 
and  slowed  down  when  the  message  reached  him, 
but  even  then  the  weak  and  wounded  were  unable  to 
maintain  their  places  in  the  line  of  march. 

He  halted  once  more  among  the  shadows  until 
the  full  force  had  come  up  from  behind,  and  held 
brief  consultation  with  his  friends. 

It  would  have  been  waste  of  time  to  resume  their 
flight  at  the  risk  of  a  total  break-down.  Transport 
of  some  sort  must  be  provided  for  the  unfortunate 
invalids.  He  had  a  concrete  plan  in  his  head  where- 
by that  might  be  procured.  He  explained  it  to  them, 
and,  having  overborne  their  united  protest  against 
his  taking  any  such  suicidal  chance,  chose  two  out 
of  the  dozen  volunteers  to  accompany  him  on  his 
dangerous  errand. 

"  If  I'm  not  back  in  an  hour,  don't  wait  for  me," 
he  begged  of  Meggs  and  O'Dare.  "Keep  moving 
coastwards,  however  slowly,  and — good  luck  to 
you!" 

They  wrung  his  hand,  and  let  him  go,  since  needs 
must. 

He  encountered  no  least  sign  of  pursuit  as  he  and 
his  two  assistants  tramped  back  along  the  dusty, 
deserted  road  which  led  to  the  ridge.  It  was  evident 
that  the  attacking  enemy  had  so  far  failed  to  dis- 
cover the  flight  of  the  defence. 

As  soon  as  he  came  within  shouting-distance  of 
the  cutting  through  which  he  must  gain  ingress  to 


THE   BELLS  TOLL  BACKWARDS     307 

the  camp  he  left  his  aggrieved  companions  in  hiding, 
under  strict  orders  to  rejoin  the  others  without  a 
moment's  delay  in  case  they  should  hear  him  cry 
that  he  had  been  caught,  and  went  on  alone,  trusting 
to  luck  to  see  him  safely  through  the  guard  at  the 
entrance. 

And  as  luck  would  have  it  there  was  but  a  single 
sentry  on  duty. 

The  armistice  in  force  between  the  rebels  and  the 
government  had  afforded  excuse  for  the  relaxation 
of  such  assiduous  precautions  as  had  been  needful 
previously. 

Allardyce,  parleying  with  the  man,  found  time 
to  observe  that  the  guard-tents  seemed  to  be  empty. 
The  wonderful  magnet  hidden  away  in  the  heart  of 
the  Golden  Horseshoe  had  broken  the  bonds  of 
discipline  even  more  effectually  than  he  had  dared 
to  hope  it  might. 

He  explained  to  the  indifferent  native  that  he  and 
certain  foot-sore  troopers  of  his  command  had  been 
left  by  the  wayside  for  lack  of  horses,  and  that  he 
had  come  on  alone  to  take  back  mounts  for  his  men. 

That  plea  was  sufficiently  plausible  to  excuse  his 
ignorance  of  the  countersign,  and  his  travel-worn 
uniform  stood  him  in  still  better  stead.  He  passed 
on  stiffly  and  entered  the  camp  itself,  turning  as 
if  by  instinct  towards  the  cavalry  lines,  no  one  else 
interfering  with  him. 

There  were  rows  upon  rows  of  horses  picketed 
there,  with  saddles  stacked  at  their  heels.  He 


308         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

picked  out  eight  of  the  best  appearing,  clapped  their 
gear  on  loosely,  mounted  one,  and  rode  away  leading 
the  others. 

From  here  and  there  a  gruff  voice  called  some 
remark  to  him  as  he  passed,  but  he  paid  no  attention 
to  them,  holding  straight  for  the  roadway  that  led 
to  the  exit,  his  teeth  tightly  set,  his  heart  thump- 
ing hard  to  his  ribs. 

It  was  all  he  could  do  to  rein  back  when  the  sentry 
once  more  cried  the  challenge,  to  go  on  again  at  a 
moderate  pace  when  permission  to  pass  was  ac- 
corded. 

"  What  news  of  the  attack,  lieutenant  ?  "  inquired 
the  guardian  of  the  gateway,  laying  an  eager,  de- 
taining hand  on  his  reins. 

"  Have  they  found  the  treasure  ?  What  mil  my 
share  be  worth  ?  Is  it  right  that  I  shall  have  some- 
thing extra  for  staying  here  ?  " 

AUardyce  pressed  cautiously  past  him,  ready  to 
make  a  dash  for  it. 

"  I  could  not  get  word  with  a  soul  inside,"  he  called 
back  in  a  gruff  voice.  "They're  every  one  after 
the  gold.  A  wise  man  would  make  his  OWH  share 
sure." 

The  soldier  drew  back,  scratched  his  head,  and 
stood  staring  after  him  in  a  state  of  most  grievous 
indecision. 

A  little  way  down  the  road  a  cautious  whistle 
brought  his  two  comrades  forth  from  their  hiding- 
place,  and  all  three  were  soon  galloping  for  the  main 


THE  BELLS  TOLL  BACKWARDS    309 

body,  Allardyce  riding  recklessly,  a  great  sensation  of 
relief  in  his  heart.  There  was  only  time  for  a  hasty 
word  of  congratulation  on  his  almost  miraculous 
success  before  the  wounded  were  set  in  the  saddle 
and  they  resumed  the  march  to  the  sea. 

They  had  been  travelling  thus,  with  an  infrequent 
pause  to  draw  breath,  for  some  hours,  had  reached 
the  entrance  to  that  deep  gorge  through  which  the 
roadway  threaded  the  foothills,  when,  without  warn- 
ing, they  experienced  two  sudden  and  most  discon- 
certing shocks. 

The  first  of  these,  the  meeting  with  a  picket  obvi- 
ously strong  enough  to  overpower  them,  which  at  a 
vigilant  outlook's  warning,  sprang  from  among  the 
rocks  on  either  side  and  strung  across  their  path;  the 
second  a  muffled,  subterranean  rumbling  which 
set  the  horses  shying  wildly,  an  ominous, 
dreadful  movement  of  the  solid  earth  beneath  their 
feet. 

A  chorus  of  wild  cries  surged  up  from  the  men 
in  front  of  them. 

"El  temblor!  El  temblor!  The  earthquake!" 
screamed  a  voice  that  was  scarcely  human,  and  at 
the  dread  words  those  who  would  have  withstood 
them  fled,  terror-stricken,  from  the  spot.  For 
there  the  highway  lay  between  two  walls  of  rock, 
which  were  swaying  loosely  in  the  cold  moonlight 
as  though  they  must  come  together  and  crush  in 
their  cruel  jaws  the  puny  human  beings,  the  cowed 
and  trembling  horses,  staggering  foolishly  where  they 


310        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

had  stopped,  making  no  effort  to  find  what  safety 
they  might  in  flight. 

The  shock  passed.  "Trot!"  shouted  Allardyce, 
his  face  still  haggard  with  the  horror  of  it,  and, 
clutching  a  stirrup-leather,  struck  at  the  shivering 
animal  beyond  it,  stumbled  forward.  The  others 
followed  at  irregular  intervals  since  it  took  time  to 
start  some  of  the  horses,  but  all  were  present  when, 
at  a  safe  distance,  he  stopped  again  to  see.  Then 
he  collapsed,  lying  down  limply  by  the  roadside, 
letting  his  head  fall  forward  in  the  dust.  And  the 
riders  slipped  from  their  sweating  horses,  throwing 
themselves  on  the  ground  that  they  might  ease  the 
awful  vertigo  which  was  still  making  their  heads 
swim,  rid  themselves  of  a  nausea  worse  than  any 
seasickness. 

It  took  them  time  to  recover  their  mental  and 
moral  capacity,  but,  as  their  beasts  calmed  down, 
they  too  regained  some  measure  of  self-confidence; 
and,  in  a  little,  went  on  their  way  without  speaking. 

That  which  had  passed  had  been  too  awful  in 
its  sinister  significance  for  words. 

The  night  and  the  long  road  alike  seemed  never- 
ending,  but  dawn  found  them  looking  down  on  Alta 
Cruz,  a  city  almost  unrecognisable. 

Its  golden  spires  had  suffered  cruel  eclipse,  and 
from  such  as  had  been  left  standing  bells  tolling 
backwards  cried  to  the  clouds  above  its  anguish. 
Black,  heavy  clouds  these,  fed  by  the  fires  still  blaz 
ing  here  and  there  amid  the  ruins  of  the  capital. 


THE  BELLS  TOLL  BACKWARDS     311 

Even  the  weary  travellers  grouped  on  the  brow 
of  the  hill  above  it  gazed  blankly  at  each  other, 
dumbly  dismayed  by  disaster  so  widespread  and 
pitiless. 

But  they  were  not  allowed  long  time  for  reflection, 
since  almost  at  their  heels  there  poured  forth  from 
the  foothills  a  wild  flight  from  the  inferno  they  had 
left  behind  in  the  mountains.  They  were  forced  to 
seek  hiding  while  its  forerunners  fled  past.  Troopers 
of  cavalry  these,  from  the  camp  on  the  ridge,  riding 
with  necks  for  sale  down  to  the  lowlands,  anywhere, 
to  get  away  from  those  terrible,  toppling  peaks. 
Then  came  the  gunners,  on  heavier  horses,  spurring, 
wild-eyed  and  afraid.  For  a  long  hour  they  streamed 
out  from  the  foothills  in  hundreds,  while  the  handful 
of  men  concealed  on  a  bank  above  the  roadway 
rested  watchfully.  But  panic  reigned,  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  all  other  business,  public  or  private. 
Personal  safety  was  every  one's  chief  concern.  With 
a  mere  human  enemy  it  was  no  time  to  interfere. 

Wherefore,  after  the  last  of  the  mounted  fugitives 
had  gone  by,  those  who  were  waiting  were  able  to 
go  on  their  own  way  unnoticed. 

They  thought  it  wisest,  however,  not  to  take  any 
unnecessary  risk,  and  to  that  end  made  a  circuit  of 
the  city  at  great  pains  rather  than  pass  through  or 
near  it.  The  foragers  they  sent  out  discovered  a 
deserted  rancho  in  a  valley  by  the  way,  and  there 
found  food  in  the  shape  of  eggs  and  black  bread. 
With  that  they  broke  their  fast,  and  thus  were 


312         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

strengthened  to  push  on,  but  it  was  afternoon  before 
they  came  into  the  level  country  lying  between  the 
capital  and  La  Boca. 

On  that  side  their  position  was  much  more  dan- 
gerous, and,  more  than  once,  they  saw  troops  on 
the  more  in  military  order.  From  which  they  judged 
that  the  worst  of  the  earthquake  had  been  confined 
to  the  upper  regions,  that  the  plain  had  not  suffered 
so  severely, 

On  its  edge  they  paused  to  consult,  and  made  up 
their  minds  to  remain  in  cover  till  nightfall,  when 
they  could  resume  their  march  to  the  sea  under  more 
propitious  auspices.  They  selected  a  suitable  spot 
to  encamp  on,  and  there  bade  the  wounded  men  lie 
down  and  sleep,  while  such  of  those  still  sound  as 
could  be  spared  from  duty  took  their  turn  of  rest 
with  devout  thankfulness. 

The  hours  passed  like  so  many  minutes  since  they 
were  not  molested,  and,  when  the  time  came,  they 
went  onwards  again  uncomplainingly,  with  drooping 
heads  and  aching  limbs,  but  all  undaunted. 

They  had  to  keep  the  highroad  at  the  start,  as, 
until  the  moon  showed  up,  it  would  have  been  im- 
possible to  make  headway  across  country.  The 
wind  was  with  them,  and  the  dust  they  raised  came 
after  them  in  a  low  cloud.  But  in  the  dark  that  did 
not  matter,  and  they  trudged  along  without  regarding 
it,  hope  growing  in  the  hearts  with  every  mile  they 
covered. 

"We've  only  one  more  difficulty  to  negotiate,'* 


THE  BELLS  TOLL  BACKWARDS     313 

Allardyce  said  to  Meggs  in  a  low  tone  as  they  two 
led  the  way.  "  If  we  can  get  across  the  Pass " 

Two  shadows  sprang  upon  him,  two  upon  his 
friend,  a  multitude  on  the  men  behind.  The  cocked 
revolver  he  was  carrying  exploded  harmlessly  as  he 
fought  tooth  and  nail  to  free  himself.  No  other 
shot  was  fired  and  none  was  necessary,  so  complete 
was  the  surprise. 

He  groaned  aloud  in  his  great  bitterness  of  heart 
for  that  they  had  been  captured  after  all  they  had 
come  through  and  on  the  very  threshold  of  escape. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

GRIEVOUS  NEWS 

AFTER  Ybarra  had  despatched  part  of  his  motley 
army,  half  regular,  half  revolutionist,  to  the  retaking 
of  the  Golden  Horseshoe  he  sent  for  his  deputy,  don 
Quentin  Sariol ;  being  imbued  with  a  lately  conceived 
and  patriotic  impulse  to  make  that  gentleman  part 
with  a  considerable  sum  of  ready  money  for  the 
replenishment  of  the  national  exchequer,  with  the 
alternative  of  being  instantly  shot  on  the  score  of 
having  trafficked  treacherously  with  the  forces  of 
rebellion. 

But  don  Quentin  was  far  too  old  a  bird  to  be 
caught  napping  on  a  limed  twig.  He  had  already 
set  out  post  haste  for  the  seaport  of  La  Boca,  leaving 
a  courteous  note  to  explain  that,  since  his  senior  had 
once  more  assumed  the  cares  of  office,  he  would 
solace  himself,  after  his  recent  and  most  harassing 
responsibilities,  with  a  short  sojourn  elsewhere. 

Whereat  His  Excellency  swore  very  vehemently, 
for  he  had  been  set  in  his  purpose  of  squeezing  don 
Quentin  to  the  last  onza. 

His  dangerous  descent  by  means  of  the  parachute 
had  not  depressed  him.  Rather  the  contrary,  for 
314 


GRIEVOUS   NEWS  315 

he  felt  that  a  man  who  could  come  safely  through 
all  he  had  suffered  within  the  past  four  and  twenty 
hours  was  surely  marked  out  for  especial  eminence. 
Mere  death  was  not  for  him.  He  was  inebriated 
with  his  own  conceit. 

I  He  had  not  overheard  from  the  roof's  height  where 
he  had  surreptitiously  ensconced  himself  to  spy  on 
Quentin  and  his  coadjutors,  who  had  thought  him 
still  safely  occupied  at  the  hacienda,  what  had  passed 
between  the  members  of  the  meeting  underneath, 
and,  after  its  convener  had  observed  him  at  his  peep- 
hole, he  had  not  been  able  to  get  down  in  time  to 
intercept  them.  The  catch  of  the  trap-door  through 
which  he  had  gained  the  roof  had  slipped  into  place 
while  he  was  still  outside  and  it  had  cost  him  precious 
minutes  to  summon  assistance,  to  obtain  entrance 
again.  But,  notwithstanding  the  Vice-President's 
plausible  explanation,  he  had  felt  well  assured  that 
there  was  treason  brewing,  that  he  could  turn  it  to 
account  in  ready  money.  For  don  Quentin  had 
held  his  present  post  too  long  to  be  a  poor  man, 
had  saved  while  Ybarra  had  squandered,  and  that 
without  affording  his  superior  any  pretext  to  extract 
a  loan,  compulsory  or  voluntary. 

All  of  which  irked  His  Excellency  so  sorely  that 
he  swore. 

Then  he  called  for  a  horse,  and  orderlies,  riding 
forth  like  a  man  possessed  on  the  trail  of  the  force 
he  had  sent  to  surround  the  balloon.  The  common 
people  stopped  to  gape  at  him  as  he  passed  through 


316         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

the  streets,  his  great  black  charger  striking  fire  from 
every  flinty  cobble,  he  sitting  it  like  a  centaur,  his 
lancers  on  their  speedy  ponies  many  lengths  in  the 
rear. 

"  The  devil  himself  surely  sits  at  the  Tiger's  crup- 
per," grumbled  a  crone  he  had  all  but  trampled  under 
foot  in  his  mad  passage,  and  the  mob  laughed.  They 
loved  a  loose  rein  and  a  steady  seat,  a  reckless  rider. 

Word  had  already  reached  him  that  the  American 
had  come  to  earth  within  the  charcoal-burners, 
forest,  a  dozen  miles  beyond  the  city-gates.  His 
brown  face  burned  beneath  the  blazing  sun  as  he 
sped  onwards,  and,  when  he  reached  the  spot  where- 
at the  hunt  had  left  the  roadway  to  break  through 
to  the  balloon,  he  sent  the  spurs  home,  shooting  past 
it  without  hesitation,  a  fresh  purpose  already 
formed. 

He  knew  that  Corbyn  must  seek  some  outlet  from 
the  woods,  and  meant  to  head  him  off  thereat,  to 
take  him  prisoner  single-handed,  and  thus  revenge 
condignly  all  the  humiliations  he  had  suffered  in  his 
cousin's  sight.  She  must  be  brought  to  see  that  he 
could  stay  the  longest  course,  and  come  out  winner; 
and — if  his  enemy  should  prove  recalcitrant  the  pair 
behind  him  had  their  carbines.  The  credit  of  the 
capture — or  the  killing — should  be  his.  His  brain- 
less friends  within  the  covert  would  serve  as  beaters. 

League  after  league  he  laid  behind  him  and  at 
length  turned  to  the  left  along  a  country-road  skirting 
the  forest  base.  Striking  a  lower  reach  of  the  same 


GRIEVOUS  NEWS  317 

stream  the  fugitives  had  stopped  at,  he  halted  there 
until  his  escort  scurried  up. 

He  bade  them  tie  the  dripping  horses  to  a  tree 
and  lead  the  way  up-stream. 

They  started  in,  he  at  their  heels,  and  clambered 
noiselessly  along  the  open  channel,  pausing  at  inter- 
vals to  cock  their  ears  and  listen,  but  heard  no  sound 
until  too  late. 

Six  very  able-bodied  men  dropped  on  them  from 
above  in  a  steep  gully  they  were  threading,  choking 
them  to  such  purpose  in  the  sand  and  gravel  there 
that  they  could  not  cry  out.  And,  when  they  were 
jerked  very  rudely  to  their  feet,  they  had  thick  gags 
to  bite  on,  and  were  thus  compelled  to  silence. 

Steel  handcuffs  held  their  wrists  together  at  their 
backs,  and,  in  this  plight  they  were  pulled  up  the 
bank,  pushed  into  the  presence  of  a  gathering  which 
filled  His  Excellency's  active  mind  with  apprehension. 

It  was  composed  of  men  in  peasants'  garb,  lean, 
sun-tanned  men  who  laughed  within  themselves  at 
sight  of  him:  all  armed  with  well-oiled  rifles  of  the 
pattern  he  had  once  hoped  to  supply  his  army  with, 
and  hung  about  with  well-filled  bandoliers  of 
lightest  webbing. 

His  heart  sank  though  his  eyes  were  glaring,  as  he 
gathered  these  details  before  he  was  tripped  up  and 
thrown  behind  a  bush  without  regard  to  his  high 
rank  in  the  Republic.  He  made  a  mental  memo- 
randum to  have  his  two  scouts  assassinated  at  an 
early  date  if  he  himself  should  survive  so  long,  and 


318        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

lifted  his  head  high  enough  to  look  across  the 
roots  before  him.  Fresh  footsteps  were  approaching, 
hurried,  stumbling  footsteps  coming  down-hill  at  a 
mad  speed. 

His  captors  had  laid  ambush  for  whoever  that  was 
also.  Ybarra  could  have  chuckled  as  he  caught  sight 
of  Corbyn's  blood-stained,  anxious  face,  but  that  at 
the  moment  a  girl's  voice  cried  "  Phil ! "  most  gladly, 
and  he  knew  then  that  Beatriz  as  well  had  fallen 
prisoner  to  the  band. 

Corbyn  fought  desperately  for  his  freedom,  and, 
at  that  word,  he  gained  it,  for  the  four  men  who  had 
sprung  upon  him  fell  back  simultaneously  and  the 
girl's  voice  cried,  "  Don't  shoot !  Don't  shoot,  Phil ! " 

He  held  his  hand,  unwillingly,  and  Beatriz  ran  for- 
ward, clasping  his  arms  in  hers  so  that  he  stood 
there  powerless.  And  after  her  emerged  from  the 
thick  growth  about  the  waterside  a  stout  and  jovial' 
looking  labourer  who  stuck  a  monocle  into  one  eye, 
and  said,  "  The  dooce !  old  fellow.  How  d'ye  do,  ch  ?  " 

Corbyn  eyed  him  in  wordless  wonder  for  a  moment 
and  then  said  limply,  "  Landguard ! " 

At  which  remark  the  labourer  grinned  sheepishly. 
"  I  do  look  rather  rakish  in  this  rig-out,  don't  I,  old 
chap,  eh,  what  ?  "  said  he. 

"God!  but  I'm  glad  to  see  you  here,"  Corbyn 
assured  him  in  a  hoarse,  shaky  voice.  "I  was 

afraid — I  thought  that Why  did  you  leave  me, 

Beatriz?" 


GRIEVOUS   NEWS  319 

She  saw  how  he  had  suffered  and  made  answer 
swiftly : 

"Lord  Landguard  found  us,  and  bade  us  come 
with  him.  He  said  the  troops  were  close  at  hand, 
and  that  he  would  send  you  word." 

"And  so  they  were,"  his  lordship  corroborated. 
"I  sent  two  men  to  fetch  you  after  us,  old  fellow. 
Didn't  you  meet  *em  up  above  ? 

"I  thought  it  would  be  too  dangerous  to  keep 
the  women  waiting  there  while " 

"  You  were  quite  right,"  Corbyn  said,  still  breath- 
ing heavily,  "  but  I  missed  your  men.  I  stopped  to 
fire  the  underwood — we  had  better  move  out  without 
delay — they'll  ride  round  to  this  side,  and " 

His  lordship  drew  a  silver  whistle  from  a  pocket 
in  his  ragged  coat  and  at  its  sound  there  came  to- 
wards them  the  main  body  of  his  command,  some 
twoscore  stalwart  riflemen — all  attired  like  himself. 
Fifi  came  out  of  concealment  also,  and,  from  behind 
a  sapless  tree-trunk,  stepped  Challoner  the  corre- 
spondent, who  found  time  to  wring  Corbyn's  hand 
delightedly  ere  they  once  more  started  down-stream 
at  a  pace  only  limited  by  the  girls'  powers. 

"The  Wireless  doesn't  need  me  any  longer  in  San' 
Benito,"  he  explained.  "They've  sent  a  substitute 
to  take  my  place.  I'm  on  my  way  to  Russia  now. 
That's  how  I  happened  to  take  a  hand  in  this  deal. 

"  If  I  had  been  working  for  the  paper,  of  course 
I'd  have  had  to  stand  out." 

"You're  rottin',  Quiff,"  his  lordship  interrupted. 


320         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"He's  been  my  guidin'  star  all  through,  Phil,  old 
chap,  Wireless  or  no  Wireless. 

"  Dolly  an'  I  were  cruisin'  about  the  Islands,  when 
we  got  word  from  him  that  you  were  cookin'  in  a 
pot  o'  trouble — somewhere  up  country. 

"An'  what  to  do  after  we'd  landed  I  did  not 
know,  damned  if  I  did — your  pardon,  Miss  Ybarra ; 
my  tongue's  always  slippin' — until  he  tipped  me 
one  or  two  wily  wrinkles  of  his  own,  dressed  me  an' 
the  men  up  in  these  dam — ahem!  these — these  rags, 
smuggled  us  across  that  da — that — that  Pass,  and 
then  went  puffin'  off  on  his  infernal — yes,  I'll  stick 
to  that  one — his  infernal  machine. 

"He  found  us  flounderin'  about  this  da — this — 
the  surroundin'  scenery  this  forenoon,  an'  led  the 
way  to  where  we  found  you. 

"  I  wonder  who  those  three  were  that  we  bagged 
just  before  you  came  into  view  ?  " 

"  One  was  Ybarra,  the  President  of  San  Benito," 
Challoner  said  quietly,  "and  the  other  two  his 
orderlies." 

"Where  are  they?"  asked  Corbyn  as  soon  as  he 
had  gotten  over  his  surprise  at  the  announcement. 

"  Comin'  along  behind,"  Lord  Landguard  answer- 
ed nonchalantly.  "They're  all  right,  old  chap. 
Don't  you  fret." 

Debouching  from  the  forest  they  found  the  three 
horses  tied  there  and  quite  safe  from  any  danger 
of  the  blaze  which  had  come  licking  after  them  along 
the  other  bank.  The  stream  would  save  that  portion 


GRIEVOUS  NEWS  321 

they  had  travelled  through,  and  Corbyn  felt  no  re- 
morse for  the  destruction  of  the  belt  of  dead  wood 
between  them  and  the  city. 

"We'd  better  leave  the  animals  where  they  are,'* 
he  said.  "When  his  followers  find  them  they'll  be 
at  a  loss  to  know  whether  the  President's  alive  or 
dead." 

"Pass  the  word  to  inquire  whether  the  two  men 
who  went  after  Mr.  Corbyn  have  yet  reported," 
Lord  Landguard  ordered,  and  the  message  went  up 
the  long  line  till  word  came  back  that  they  had  just 
come  in  touch  with  the  rear-guard. 

"  Then  we'll  get  back  to  our  base,"  said  his  lordship 
briskly  to  the  officer  behind  him.  "Wait  here  and 
tell  each  man  that  passes  that  we  must  scatter  widely 
and  cross  country  under  cover.  They  are  to  pick 
their  steps  over  the  hardest  ground  and  leave  no 
spoor.  Rally  on  that  low  kopje — yes,  the  one  to 
westward  of  the  Pass — and  watch  for  signals  by  the 
way.  See  that  the  horses  are  securely  fastened. 
Come  on  behind  after  you've  counted  every  man 
out." 

The  other  saluted,  with  incongruous  effect  in  the 
disguise  of  the  slovenly  costume  he  was  wearing,  and 
Corbyn  led  Beatrix  along  the  border  of  a  tobacco- 
field,  while  Landguard  undertook  to  pilot  Fifi.  It 
would  have  been  unwise  k>  follow  the  stream  further 
and  so  lay  a  trail  which  would  be  obvious  to  every 
tyro  in  the  hunt. 

The  men,  emerging  after  them,  broke  right  and 
21 


322         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

left,  travelling  stealthily,  and  they  went  onwards  in 
a  V-shaped  wedge,  with  Landguard,  in  command, 
as  apex,  the  prisoners  with  their  guards  inside  but 
separated. 

They  had  scarcely  covered  a  short  mile,  when, 
looking  backwards,  they  saw  the  pursuit  stream 
past  that  angle  of  the  forest  which  had  hidden  them. 
Landguard  lay  down  behind  an  ant-heap  and  trained 
his  Zeiss  glasses  on  the  mob  of  horsemen. 

"  I  thought  at  first  that  they  were  comin'  after  us," 
he  said  to  Fifi,  "  but  they've  turned  along  the  slope. 
The  fire  has  crept  as  far's  the  road  already — it  will 
soon  burn  out.  We'll  dig  along  again,  Miss  Flo- 
rian;  I'm  hankerin'  to  get  back  to  papa." 

He  grinned  most  genially,  and  Fifi  for  all  her 
fatigue  could  not  but  laugh  both  with  and  at  him. 

Another  half-hour  of  laborious  progress  brought 
them  very  near  their  objective,  and  there  a  discon- 
certing incident  occurred. 

An  elderly  gentleman,  pink-faced  and  white  of 
whisker,  jumped  from  behind  a  boulder  as  they 
skirted  it,  levelling  at  them  the  rifle  he  had  hold 
of. 

Fifi  suppressed  with  difficulty  the  cry  upon  her 
lips  as  her  attendant  cavalier  stopped  short  and 
looked  most  quizzically  at  this  strange  enemy. 

"Now,  Pops,"  he  said  in  a  reproving  voice,  "this 
ain't  the  time  of  year  for  shootin'  son-in-laws! 
Better  be  careful  or  you'll  end  up  by  blowin'  a  bullet 
into  somebody. 


GRIEVOUS   NEWS  323 

"This  is  my  father-in-law,  Mr.  Corbyn,  Miss 
Florian." 

The  stranger  bowed,  and  blushed.  "My  eyes 
are  failing  me,"  he  said.  "  I've  been  on  the  lookout 
for  you  for  the  last  hour.  Where  are  the  others? 
What  news  is  there,  Dick?" 

"Great  news,  Pops.  We've  got  the  two  ladies 
safe,  and  we've  bagged  Ybarra,  and  — 

"  Where's  Phil  ?  "  demanded  the  older  man,  unable 
to  restrain  his  gnawing  anxiety. 

His  lordship  halted,  and  at  a  blast  from  his  silver 
whistle  a  dozen  heads  popped  up  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, all  looking  in  his  direction. 

"Where's  Phil?"  said  he,  and  pointed  to  two  of 
the  nearest.  "That  looks  pretty  like  Phil  Corbyn, 
doesn't  it,  Pops  ?  " 

He  grinned  delightedly  again  at  Fifiashis  father- 
in-law  hurried  off  at  a  great  pace. 

"  Poor  old  Pops ! "  said  he,  and  they  went  on  to- 
gether, the  others  following. 

Corbyn  stopped  in  astonishment  at  sight  of  the 
elderly  gentleman  bearing  down  on  him  with  out- 
stretched hand.  He  had  thought  that  his  sister  and 
Landguard  had  been  alone  on  their  yacht,  that  his 
father  was  at  his  office  in  San  Francisco,  and  the 
surprise  that  his  brother-in-law  had  planned  for 
him  almost  took  his  breath  away. 

"Dad!"  he  said  jerkily. 

"  Phil ! "  cried  his  father,  and  they  clasped  hands. 
There  were  no  more  words  needed  to  effect  full  and 


324        THE  GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

complete  reconciliation.  Neither  was  given  to  un- 
necessary speech.  Each  knew  the  other  too  well 
to  ask  any  further  assurance  that  the  feud  which 
had  sundered  them  for  so  long  was  dead  and  buried, 
forgiven,  forgotten  on  both  sides.  Corbyn  was 
overjoyed  that  it  should  be  so,  the  older  man  dumbly 
thankful  that  it  was  not  yet  to*  late  to  retrieve  the 
grievous  mistakes  of  the  past.  He  had  dealt  very 
harshly  with  his  only  son.  He  must  find  some 
means  to  make  that  up  to  him  now. 

He  turned  to  Beatriz,  on  Corbyn's  arm,  and  she 
flushed  rosily.  Was  ever  maiden  fated  to  meet 
critical  inspection  in  less  fit  garb!  What  would  he 
think  of  her,  for  whom  his  son  had  sacrificed  so 
much? 

Could  she  have  known  it,  he  was  thinking  that, 
had  he  been  in  Phil's  place,  he  could  not  have  done 
differently.  And  wishing  that  the  boy's  dead  mother 
could  but  have  set  eyes  on  the  two  of  them  as  they 
stood  there  before  him:  one  fair  and  sweet  beyond 
all  telling,  with  downcast  eyes  which  yet,  when  they 
had  first  met  his,  had  told  him  everything  that  he 
desired  to  know;  the  other  tanned  and  haggard 
after  the  hardships  he  had  undergone  for  her  sake, 
but  very  straight  and  upright,  looking  him  squarely 
in  the  face  as  he  would  the  whole  world,  a  son  whom 
any  father  might  have  been  proud  of. 

"Dad,"  said  that  dutiful  young  man,  one  arm 
protectingly  about  the  shrinking  girl,  "  Dad,  this  is 
Beatriz." 


GRIEVOUS   NEWS  325 

His  tone  told  all  there  was  to  tell,  and  Mr.  Corbyn 
chuckled  delightedly  to  think  of  the  good  news  he 
had  brought  them  both.  But  that  would  keep,  and 
meantime  he  stood  upon  no  ceremony.  And  the 
shy  glarice  of  gratitude  she  gave  him  ere  they  went 
on  again  together  in  haste  to  rejoin  the  others  com- 
pleted her  conquest.  From  that  time  forward  he 
next  to  his  bold  son  was  her  stanchest  ally.  She  had 
perforce  to  avail  herself  of  the  arm  each  offered  her, 
and  it  was  thus  that  they  came  into  camp,  greatly 
to  the  satisfaction  of  Fifi  and  Landguard,  who  had 
both  been  somewhat  anxious  as  to  the  outcome  of 
their  encounter. 

"Dick,"  cried  the  old  gentleman  with  vast  con- 
tentment as  they  drew  near,  "I'm  indebted  to  you, 
my  boy,  for  a  daughter  as  well  as  a  son." 

"I  thought  you  would  be,  Pops,"  said  his  son-in- 
law  sapiently,  and  changed  the  conversation  without 
delay. 

"You've  fixed  us  up  a  famous  fort  here,"  he  ob- 
served as  they  all  passed  round  the  base  of  a  rough 
hillock  only  to  be  ascended  from  behind. 

"  It  should  be  possible  to  hold  it  against  great  odds," 
said  Mr.  Corbyn  modestly.  He  had  been  left  there 
on  the  pretext  that  he  must  hold  the  base  for  them 
while  the  main  body  made  its  wild  dash  into  the 
forest,  and  Landguard  had  suggested  that  he  should 
occupy  the  height  they  were  now  ascending.  Six 
men,  two  mules,  and  a  machine-gun  formed  his 
garrison,  and  with  that  force  he  had  effected  great 


326       THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

things.  Loose  stones  had  been  banked  up  to  afford 
cover,  sites  sorted  for  the  gun,  shelter  built  for  the 
mules.  The  place  was  not,  of  course,  impregnable, 
but,  fortified  thus,  would  not  be  taken  easily. 

"  Hope  we  shan't  have  to  test  the  theory,"  Land- 
guard  replied  laughingly.  "So  far  we  haven't  had 
to  fire  a  shot,  and  the  less  gunnin'  we  get  mixed  up 
in  the  better  for  me  when  I  have  to  get  on  to  my  hind- 
legs  in  the  House  of  Lords  an'  tell  'em  how  it  hap- 
pened that  I  came  to  be  invading  a  friendly  country 
with  an  armed  force  at  my  back.  It  might  be  a 
hangin'  matter  for  me,  Pops." 

At  which  misstatement  his  father-in-law  merely 
smiled.  He  knew  that  Richard,  Lord  Landguard, 
was  given  to  speaking  figuratively,  and  at  that 
moment  the  rest  of  the  fighting-force  marched  in, 
their  prisoners  with  them. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  as  soon  as  Landguard 
had  seen  the  men  settled  and  dispositions  had  been 
made  for  the  defence  of  their  stronghold  in  case  of 
attack.  Corbyn  repeated  what  he  had  already  told 
each  in  part  about  the  plight  of  his  comrades  at  the 
hacienda,  and  it  was  settled  that  they  must  stake 
what  they  had  so  far  won  on  the  rescue  of  the  sur- 
vivors at  the  Golden  Horseshoe,  holding  Ybarra 
hostage  for  the  girls'  safety.  It  was  no  moment  for 
half-measures.  Time  pressed  and  come  what  might 
they  could  not  desert  Meggs  and  his  men. 

The  President  was  therefore  brought  forward,  and 
their  intention  explained  to  him,  but  he  made  no 


GRIEVOUS  NEWS  327 

comment  on  it,  contenting  himself  with  staring 
fixedly  at  Beatriz,  seated  with  Fifi  under  the  shade 
of  a  rock  near-by.  And,  since  nothing  was  to  be 
got  out  of  him,  they  sent  him  back  to  his  own  place, 
with  a  last  warning  that  his  life  would  be  held  forfeit 
if  any  harm  befell  her  now. 

Then  there  arose  the  question  whether  they 
should  all  go  south  again  together  or  leave  a  force 
in  concealment  there  to  care  for  the  women,  and 
take  a  flying  column  through  to  the  mountains. 

But  that  was  unexpectedly  solved  for  them  by 
the  appearance  from  among  the  hills  behind  of  a 
great  force  in  groups  innumerable.  Which  strayed 
past  their  hiding-place  and  across  the  plain  towards 
Alta  Cruz,  finally  forming  camp  on  the  open  plain, 
always  in  separate  parties  and  directly  across  their 
path. 

"Those  are  guerrillas  from  the  coastal  range," 
said  Challoner.  "  They  must  be  concentrating  there 
either  to  assist  in  besieging  the  city  or  because  word 
has  reached  them  that  the  Beds  and  regulars  are 
to  share  the  treasure  at  the  hacienda.  I'm  half 
afraid  they'll  stay  where  they  are  till  something  turns 
up.  They're  too  suspicious  of  the  Tiger's  strategy 
to  trust  themselves  much  nearer  his  headquarters." 

His  fears  were  not  without  foundation,  for  at 
nightfall  there  were  leagues  of  country  covered  by 
scattered  campfires,  and  a  ceaseless  interchange  of 
visits  between  the  bands  seemed  to  be  going  on. 
No  more  effectual  barrier  could  have  been  raised 


328         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

between  the  fretting  rescue-party  and  their  friends 
in  the  country  beyond  the  capital. 

All  next  day  it  endured,  and,  when  darkness  came 
down,  the  lights  showed  that  there  was  nothing  for 
it  but  to  draw  further  on  a  stock  of  patience  that 
was  waning  fast. 

"  If  they're  still  there  to-morrow,"  said  Landguard, 
"we'll  have  to  supply  ourselves  with  horses  from 
their  picket-lines  and  make  a  dash  for  it." 

It  would  have  been  sheer  madness  to  attempt 
that,  but  nevertheless  they  turned  the  project  over 
in  their  minds  with  relish,  and  might  indeed  have 
attempted  it  but  for  the  earthquake  which  presently 
woke  the  world  up  like  a  wild  nightmare. 

There  in  the  open  they  did  not  suffer  so  severely 
as  those  who  were  penned  in  among  the  mountains, 
but,  notwithstanding,  the  cold  terror  of  it  gripped 
hard  at  their  hearts. 

Even  Ybarra,  fearless  beyond  all  standards 
among  men,  cried  on  the  gods  he  had  so  long  con- 
temned as  he  lay  bound  among  his  guards  and  felt 
the  solid  rock  shake  underneath  him,  while  tor- 
tured voices  groaned  and  growled  in  the  great  travail 
of  the  under-earth. 

The  shock  passed,  and,  in  time,  the  sun  once  more 
shone  down  on  them.  They  saw  a  greater  multitude 
than  ever  on  the  plain,  and  a  black  cloud  above  the 
city  of  the  golden  spires  whose  brilliance  had 
departed. 

Then  there  came  flying  thence  towards  the  sea 


GRIEVOUS  NEWS  329 

fugitives,  civilian,  military,  men  and  women,  a  little 
later  the  most  cowardly  of  the  deserters  from  the 
siege  of  the  Golden  Horseshoe. 

Landguard,  on  the  alert  and  desperately  anxious 
now,  sent  a  detachment  out  to  capture  any  straggling 
soldier  whose  appearance  might  warrant  the  belief 
that  he  had  come  from  up-country.  That  brought 
back  a  white-faced  linesman  who  had  stolen  a  com- 
rade's mount  from  the  cavalry-lines  on  the  ridge  and 
fled  so  fast  and  far  that  he  had  lamed  the  animal 
irremediably. 

And  from  him  they  learned  all  he  could  tell  con- 
cerning the  happenings  at  the  hacienda,  Challoner 
translating  his  disjointed  sentences  into  smooth 
English. 

"The  attack  was  timed  for  moon-rise,"  he  began, 
"and,  as  there  was  no  longer  need  to  guard  the 
ridge  against  the  rebels  also,  all  of  us  save  the  main- 
guard  had  permission  to  take  part  in  it. 

"And  we  went  willingly — to  share  the  trea- 
sure. 

"Those  up  above  had  blown  a  great  gap  in  the 
eastern  stairway  but  we  had  hopes  of  bridging  that, 
and  there  was  also  a  plan  laid  to  clear  the  tunnel.  I 
thought  the  latter  the  more  likely  to  succeed  and 
went  with  that  half  of  our  force.  But  at  the  entrance 
there  was  water  flowing,  water  almost  too  hot  to 
touch. 

"Some  of  the  sappers  were  thrust  forward  to 
investigate  and  driven  up  by  bullets  from  behind. 


330         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

But  that  was  useless,  for  the  flood  rose  far  too  swiftly, 
and  always  hotter.  Those  that  the  bullets  spared 
died  in  the  steam  that  spat  out  suddenly  in  a  ter- 
rific blast. 

"We  fell  back,  for  the  tunnel-mouth  was  like  a 
kettle  spout,  and  I  went  round  to  see  how  those  at 
the  stairfoot  were  faring. 

"  A  shot  or  two  was  was  fired  from  overhead  and 
we  judged  that  the  enemy  was  well  aware  of  our 
purpose,  but  we  worked  away  with  lines  and  ladders 
until  - 

The  man's  voice  shook.     He  shivered. 

"I  heard  a  tearing  sound  that  hurt  my  ears  and 
then  a  dull  explosion. 

"  We  turned  and  ran,  all  of  us  that  were  left — the 
cliff  had  come  down  headlong.  The  Golden  Horse- 
shoe was  lit  up  like  hell  itself.  The  plateau  upon 
which  had  stood  the  hacienda  was  a  vomiting  vol- 
cano, topped  by  a  dense  white  cloud. 

"  I  was  among  the  first  to  reach  the  ridge  and  so 
secured  a  horse.  Half  way  between  there  and  Alta 
Cruz  death  clutched  at  me  again  in  a  most  dreadful 
earthquake,  but  I — I  am  here. 

"How  many  may  have  perished  at  the  siege  I 
know  not,  but  for  the  defenders  there  was  no  hope — 
no,  not  one:  for  men  who  have  passed  me  by  the 
way  say  that  the  Golden  Horseshoe  is  becoming  a 
great  lake." 

He  ceased,  and  those  about  him  sat  with  heads 
bent,  sorrowing,  as  he  was  led  away  and  placed 


GRIEVOUS   NEWS  331 

among  the  other  prisoners.  No  one  had  any  word 
to  say. 

But,  while  the  dead  had  rest,  those  who  were  left 
must  struggle  on,  and,  after  a  long  time,  Lord  Land- 
guard  spoke:  i 

"We  must  make  for  the  coast  to-night,"  he  re- 
marked quietly.  "I'll  come  back  afterwards, 
and- 

"  We'll  go  up-country  together,  Dick,"  said  Cor- 
byn  as  he  hesitated,  "after  we've  got  the  others 
safely  on  board  your  boat."  His  voice  was  not  very 
steady,  but  he  showed  no  other  sign  of  all  that  he 
had  suffered  in  that  dark  hour. 

They  broke  camp  at  a  late  hour  to  allow  time  for 
the  road  to  clear  before  they  should  attempt  the  Pass, 
which  Challoner  advised  them  to  negotiate  just  be- 
fore dawn,  and  started  with  heavy  hearts  on  their 
long  march. 

And  all  went  well  till  the  rear-guard  sent  forward 
word  that  an  armed  force  had  debouched  from 
among  the  hills  on  their  trail  and  was  following  fast. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

AU   REVOIR 

"  THAT'S  deuced  awkward ! "  grumbled  Lord  Land- 
guard.  "What  are  we  goin'  to  do  about  it,  eh? 
If  we  get  shootin'  at  them  we'll  soon  have  the  whole 
wasps'  nest  about  our  ears." 

"If  there  are  not  too  many,  hold  them  up," 
Challoner  counselled.  "Ambush  them.  Smash 
their  rifles.  Turn  right  about,  towards  Alta  Cruz, 
and  then  kick;  kick  hard. 

"We  can't  afford  to  have  them  chase  us  up  the 
slope,  nor  can  we  let  them  get  ahead  of  us  and  so 
take  news  of  our  coming  to  the  camp  on  the  Sum- 
mit." 

Corbyn  nodded  concurrence,  and  they  three  fell 
back  on  the  rear-guard  to  see  the  scheme  carried  out, 
whispering  curt  instructions  to  those  in  subordinate 
command  of  the  dim  figures  swinging  past  them. 

The  column  was  moving  swiftly,  the  two  girls 
travelling  on  the  mules  that  had  formerly  carried 
the  machine-gun,  which  cherished  piece  of  ordnance 
now  lay  deeply  buried  among  the  rocks  behind  their 
vacated  entrenchments. 

The  rear-guard,  thus  strengthened,  was  told  off  in 
332 


AU  REVOIR  333 

pairs,  and,  as  soon  as  they  came  to  a  suitable  spot, 
took  position,  crouching  down  in  the  darkness,  a 
double  line  of  men  with  their  rifles  slung. 

They  had  not  long  to  wait  ere  their  pursuers  ap- 
peared, trudging  stolidly  into  the  trap,  all  unwitting 
of  that  which  lay  lurking  in  wait  on  either  side 
of  the  dust -cloud  enveloping  them. 

The  jaws  of  the  trap  snapped  together  at  both 
ends  simultaneously.  A  single  revolver  shot,  an 
insignificant  crack  like  that  of  a  whip,  was  audible 
above  the  shuffling  of  feet,  the  panting  breaths  of 
those  who  were  struggling  at  odds. 

"Break  back,  lads!  Break  back  and  escape!" 
cried  a  desperate  voice  from  in  front,  and  was  an- 
swered by  one  shouting  wildly,  "  Stand  fast !  We're 
friends." 

Captors  and  captured  relaxed  their  tense  grips  for 
an  instant  while  Corbyn  asked  in  a  tremulous  tone 
of  the  shadow  whose  cry  had  come  in  time  and  no 
more  to  prevent  further  mischief,  "Who — who  are 
you?" 

"  Is  that  you,  Corbyn,  old  chap  ? "  it  answered, 
shakily  also  and  almost  in  unbelief.  "I — I'm 
Allardyce." 

Words  fail  to  paint  the  rapture  of  the  reunion* 
which  took  place  there  in  the  starless  night.  Ten 
minutes  passed  and  ten  more  ere  they  had  got  half 
through  their  mutual  congratulations  and  explana- 
tions. But  at  last  Landguard  gave  the  command, 
"  Quick  march, "  and  the  girls  sought  their  saddles 


334        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

again,  while,  as  they  moved  on,  Beatriz  found  Cor- 
byn  at  her  bridle.  Dennis  O'Dare  had  replaced  the 
seaman  who  had  been  leading  Fifi's  mount. 

There  was  but  one  more  barrier  between  the  united 
expeditions  and  the  successful  end  of  their  enter- 
prise. It  was  sufficiently  formidable  to  give  them 
pause,  but,  if  their  luck  held,  they  might  overcome 
it  as  they  had  its  forerunners,  while,  if  it  came  to 
fighting,  they  must  take  such  chances  as  might  befall. 
But  even  Ybarra,  shuffling  unwillingly  along  be- 
tween his  guards,  felt  curious  to  know  how  they  in- 
tended to  get  past  the  garrison  which  held  the 
Pass. 

They  halted  half  a  mile  below  the  Summit,  where 
a  most  marvellous  metamorphosis  took  place,  all  the 
less  understandable  since  it  was  still  dark. 

Some  fifty  very  slovenly  insurgents  pulled  out 
clasp-knives,  slit  their  soiled  outer  clothing  carefully 
from  head  to  heel,  and,  through  that  chrysalis, 
emerged  in  the  familiar  form  of  British  bluejackets. 
Landguard,  their  leader,  and  the  officers  of  his  com- 
mand were  also  in  full  uniform  of  blue  and  brass  and 
gold. 

Corbyn  and  his  worn  men  felt  shabby  and  forlorn 
*beside  them,  but  there  was  yet  a  part  for  them  to 
play  in  character  when  the  time  came.  Challoner 
Was  stage-manager  of  that  performance  also,  and, 
all  his  orders  having  been  complied  with,  they  went 
on  till  a  picket  challenged  their  advance. 

Then  Landguard,  in  the  lead,  called,  with  as- 


AU  REVOIR  335 

sumed  anger  in  his  voice,  for  Corbyn,  who  hastened 
forward  with  a  rough  native  imprecation. 

"  What's  this  ?  "  he  shouted  sternly  and  glared  at 
the  shivering  sentry.  "Cannot  you  see,  fool,  that 
these  are  foreigners?  Are  you  a  raw  recruit  that 
you  don't  know  the  difference  between  their  uniform 
and  ours  ?  Have  you  not  heard  the  order  that  the 
legation  guards  are  to  pass  unquestioned  ?  " 

"Forward,  senores!  Let  me  apologise  for  the 
stupidity  of  this  black  animal." 

He  made  a  ferocious  lunge  at  the  alarmed  lines- 
man, who  did  not  dare  to  protest,  lest  worse  should 
befall  him  at  the  hands  of  his  superior,  and  Corbyn 
stayed  beside  him,  breathing  dire  wrath,  while  the 
stalwart  English  sailors  tramped  stolidly  past, 
rifles  at  the  slope. 

After  them  came  a  footsore  detachment  of  native 
troops,  hustling  along  a  huddled  party  of  prisoners 
in  the  shape  of  Beatriz  and  Ygnacio  Ybarra,  Fifi  and 
Challoner,  the  elder  Corbyn,  the  President's  two 
orderlies,  and  the  man  who  had  fled  from  the  siege 
of  the  Golden  Horseshoe,  followed  by  a  few  wounded 
men  on  horseback. 

When  they  had  all  gone  by,  Corbyn,  with  a  part- 
ing threat  to  the  sentry,  went  on  again  to  browbeat 
any  one  else  rash  enough  to  interfere.  But  no  one 
did  so. 

News  of  the  earthquake,  the  destruction  of  Alta 
Cruz  and  the  Golden  Horseshoe,  the  consequent 
extinction  of  the  filibusters  who  had  held  the  Presi- 


336         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

dent's  Jiacienda  against  its  rightful  owner,  the  Tigers 
own  tragic  fate  in  the  forest  fire,  had  already  reached 
the  Summit  through  the  fugitives  who  had  ever  since 
been  trooping  across  the  Pass. 

There  was  nothing  at  all  unusual  in  the  aspect 
of  the  prisoners,  with  bandaged  heads,  bound  hands, 
or  of  their  escort,  ragged,  dirty,  and  slouching  of 
gait,  a  very  indifferent  contrast  to  the  smart  foreign 
squad  in  front.  The  garrison  main-guard,  standing 
round  their  fire  among  the  trees  above  the  roadway, 
were  satisfied  that  all  was  well,  since  the  picket  had 
led  the  travellers  pass.  They  looked  on  with  dull, 
sleepy  eyes  till  the  last  of  them  was  out  of  sight. 

The  outpost  on  the  seaward  slope  did  not  think  it 
worth  while  to  halt  them  since  they  had  passed  the 
main-guard,  and  Ybarra,  plodding  down  hill  with 
sealed  lips,  his  heels  in  constant  contact  with  the 
boots  of  those  immediately  behind  him,  ground  his 
teeth  in  bitter  impotent  anger  as  he  added  one  more 
mental  note  to  the  long  list  in  his  retentive  memory. 
If  he  should  live  it  would  be  his  particular  ambition 
to  teach  the  Tenth  of  the  Line  the  duties  of  a  picket 
at  a  point  of  such  importance.  He  did  not  know 
that  they  were  already  congratulating  themselves  on 
his  supposititious  demise. 

A  search-light  from  the  bay  below  laid  a  long,  thin, 
white  finger  on  the  base  of  the  black  mountain-side 
which  the  relieved  adventurers  were  now  descending, 
and  at  Landguard's  behest  three  fires  were  lit  in 
answer  and  left  ablaze.  So  that  when,  after  day 


ATI  REVOIR  337 

broke  and  the  sun  was  high,  they  reached  sea-level 
and  turned  westward  away  from  the  road  which  led 
into  La  Boca,  there  were  boats  waiting  at  a  safe 
place  to  carry  them  on  board  his  lordship's  yacht, 
a  great  grey  vessel  like  a  man-of-war,  lying  at  anchor 
opposite  the  town. 

Dorothy,  Lady  Landguard,  was  at  the  gangway 
to  receive  them,  and  had  her  hands  full  with  the 
the  wayworn  party  her  bold  husband  had  brought 
back  at  such  risk  to  himself  and  her.  Her  eyes  were 
wet  with  happy  tears  as  she  bade  each  one  welcome, 
from  her  husband,  father,  brother,  down  to  the  most 
bashful  of  the  brave  men  who  had  helped  them 
to  succour  her  two  sister-women.  And  then  she  led 
Beatriz  and  Fifi  below,  and  they  cried  on  each 
other's  shoulder  over  the  tale  there  was  to  be 
told. 

Ygnacio  Ybarra  and  his  followers  were  bestowed 
in  a  place  of  security  and  left  there  under  obser- 
vation, the  wounded  all  established  in  the  sick- 
bay, where  the  ship's  surgeon  soon  found  means 
to  improve  their  somewhat  sorry  plight,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  invading  army  devoted  them- 
selves with  great  glee  to  improving  their  appearances 
in  anticipation  of  the  wedding  to  be  celebrated  forth- 
with. It  had  been  announced  that  there  was  a 
couple  on  board  about  to  enter  the  honourable 
estate  of  matrimony,  and  in  their  welfare  officers 
and  men  alike  seemed  to  take  an  interest  extraordi- 
narily keen. 
22 


338         THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

Landguard  had  his  gig  piped  away  as  soon  as  he 
had  made  himself  presentable  and  was  rowed  over 
to  a  smart  cruiser  flying  the  Stars  and  Stripes  which 
had  just  steamed  in.  Challoner  had  not  come  off 
from  the  shore  with  the  others,  his  professional  in- 
stincts having  proved  too  strong  to  let  him  rest  till 
he  should  have  found  out  what  news  there  was  in 
La  Boca.  During  their  absence  the  ship  was 
dressed  in  honour  of  the  occasion,  and  a  brave  show 
she  made  with  all  her  bunting  abroad. 

Beatriz  came  on  deck  first,  in  simple  travelling 
dress,  and  found  Mr.  Corbyn  vastly  busy  in  a  cabin 
there.  The  desk  at  which  he  was  sitting  was  lit- 
tered with  slips  of  paper,  to  each  of  which  he  was 
signing  his  name  hastily  but  with  method.  He 
rose  as  she  stepped  over  the  threshold  and  his  face 
lit  up  at  sight  of  her.  She  was  so  dainty  and  demure, 
so  very  womanly  withal  in  her  new  guise.  He  had 
no  words  to  welcome  this  bewitchingly  beautiful 
princess  who  had  replaced  the  shy  boy  he  had  found 
such  a  snug  place  in  his  heart  for,  but  he  held  out 
his  arms  to  her  and  she  ran  to  him  with  a  silken 
rustle. 

Corbyn  encountered  Meggs  at  the  companion- 
foot,  and  "Phil,"  said  his  friend,  "we  owe  Barrof 
Mobile  a  good  turn  after  all ! " 

"  That  doesn't  \vorry  me  so  much  as  what  I  owe 
you,  Jerry,"  Corbyn  replied.  "  But  for  you,  Beatriz 
and  I " 

"I'll  tell  you  how  you  can  wipe  that  score  off," 


AU  REVOIR  339 

Meggs  interrupted.  "  Let  me  be  best  man  at  your 
wedding." 

His  honest  eyes  met  Corbyn's  straightly.  There 
was  no  bitterness  in  them,  and  the  old  blind  regret 
lay  buried  at  the  mountain-foot  where  he  had  fought 
and  overcome  temptation.  Corbyn  made  no  reply, 
since  none  was  needed,  but  put  an  arm  through  his, 
and  in  that  wise  they  went  out  into  the  sunshine 
together. 

"  Writing  a  book  about  it,  Dad  ?  "  Corbyn  asked 
from  the  door  of  the  deck-cabin,  wherein  he  had 
caught  sight  of  Beatriz.  His  father  looked  round, 
laughing. 

"Wedding-cards,"  he  rejoined.  "There's  one  for 
yourself,  Phil,  and  I  want  you  to  distribute  the  others 
among  your  men.  Take  Beatriz  with  you — she's 
got  something  to  tell  you,  I  think — and  see  that  no 
one's  overlooked.  Come  back  for  more  if  there 
aren't  enough. 

"  And,  Phil,  if  Dennis  O'Darc's  on  deck  ask  him 
to  look  in  here,  will  you." 

"Denny,"  cried  Corbyn,  catching  sight  of  that 
individual  at  the  moment,  and  left  him  to  inter- 
view the  old  gentleman  while  he  went  forward  with 
Beatriz  to  distribute  the  checks  with  which  he  had 
been  entrusted.  Beatriz  chided  him  for  that  he  had 
pocketed  his  own  without  any  acknowledgment, 
but  he  found  means  to  silence  her  when  he  thought 
no  one  could  oversee  them  and  looked  down  into 
her  laughing  eyes  with  a  masterful  smile. 


340        THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

"It's  all  right,  sweetheart,"  he  reassured  her. 
"  Dad  understands,  and  you  don't  know  the  Corbyn 
ways  yet.  We  don't  deal  much  in  flowers  of 
speech." 

"Perhaps  that's  why  he's  deputed  me  to  tell  you 
about  your  picture." 

"What  picture?"  he  demanded  with  sudden, 
eager  interest,  and  halted  her  in  a  nook  at  the  back 
of  the  chart-house. 

She  smiled  provokingly  up  at  him  and  he  caught 
her  to  him  again. 

"  What  picture  ?  "  he  asked  imperiously. 

"Some  pretty  girl  you  must  have  been  seeing  far 
too  much  of  while  I  was  away,"  she  replied,  and  her 
eyes  were  accusing  now,  "  since  you  were  able  to  send 
her  portrait  to  the  Academy.  She's  made  your  fame 
and  fortune,  Phil,  and  I — I'm  jealous  of  her.  Your 
father  says  that  she's  the  feature  of  the  exhibition. 
Every  one's  talking  about  you — and  her.  Your 
reputation's  made,  and — I  do  think,  Phil,  that  you 
might  have  asked  me  to  sit  for  my  portrait  instead  of 
her!" 

Corbyn  was  almost  overcome  by  the  gladness  of 
her  good  tidings.  Out  of  dire  failure  had  come 
achievement,  so  much  the  more  welcome  thus.  He 
had  accomplished  all  he  had  set  out  to  do,  and  the 
fulfilment  of  his  ambition  was  doubly  sweet  after  the 
dark  and  dreary  days  it  had  cost  him.  Success  in 
his  chosen  profession  meant  independence,  and  for 
that  he  had  intended  to  go  on  fighting  until  he  should 


AU  REVOIR  841 

win  it.  His  tanned  face  flushed  with  pleasure  to 
think  that  it  was  already  won. 

"Dear,"  said  he  very  tenderly,  "I  had  no  model 
from  which  to  draw  inspiration.  I  pictured  my 
good  angel  from  memory,  and — she's  captivated  all 
the  critics  for  me.  Whatever  of  fame  or  fortune  may 
be  in  store  for  us,  we  owe  to  the  girl  who  looks  at  you 
out  of  your  own  mirror." 

Fifi  and  Allardyce  were  the  last  of  the  reha- 
bilitated to  appear,  and  on  the  former  O'Dare  de- 
scended beaming  from  the  deck-cabin,  as  Challoner 
came  clambering  up  the  ship's  side  from  a  shore- 
boat,  with  the  sad  news  of  San  Francisco's  terrible 
fate  still  ringing  in  his  ears.  That  he  told  Mr. 
Corbyn  privately,  deeming  it  only  right  that  he 
should  know  at  once,  and  they  two  kept  to  themselves 
for  the  time  being  the  knowledge  of  the  ruin  wrought 
there  by  the  selfsame  earthquake  which  had  spared 
them. 

"  But  I  must  get  back  as  soon  as  possible  and  see 
what  I  can  do  to  help,"  said  the  old  gentleman. 
"  It's  purely  providential,  Mr.  Challoner,  that  I  was 
not  there  when  it  happened.  I  had  intended  to 
remain  until  I  had  wound  up  the  last  threads  of  my 
business,  but  Doll  induced  me  to  leave  them  and 
come  away.  My  loss  will  be  but  light,  and — my 
life  has  been  mercifully  preserved.  I  have  much 
to  be  thankful  for  at  present." 

"A  very  sensible  young  man  that,"  he  added  to 
himself,  as  the  unconscious  correspondent  stepped 


342         THE    GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

out  on  deck  again  and  joined  the  group  at  the  ship's 
rail  whence  they  were  watching  Landguard's  gig 
start  from  the  cruiser's  side. 

They  welcomed  Challoner  so  warmly  that  he  had 
almost  blushed,  a  weakness  of  which  he  had  not  been 
guilty  within  the  memory  of  man,  but  he  diverted 
their  attention  from  himself  by  producing  a  tiny 
parcel  which  he  handed  to  the  prospective  bride- 
groom. 

"You'll  find  that  useful  presently,"  he  remarked 
with  great  gravity,  and,  while  the  others  gathered 
round,  Corbyn  brought  to  light  a  rough  gold  ring. 

"Sorry  the  workmanship's  so  crude,"  said  Chal- 
loner, "but  it  was  the  best  I  could  get  done  in  the 
time  I  had.  And  I  thought  you'd  maybe  like  it 
for  luck.  The  metal  it's  made  of  came  from  the 
President's  golden  horseshoe.  I  found  it  on  the 
near-fore  of  his  black  stallion  as  we  left  the  forest, 
and  got  one  of  the  men  to  file  a  stud  off  for  me.  The 
good  folk  here  believe  that  until  it  wears  out  he'll 
sit  secure  in  his  saddle,  and  he  seems  to  share  their 
belief,  for  he  keeps  it  in  good  repair. 

"Here's  Landguard.     Who's  he  got  with  him?" 

"  The  cruiser's  chaplain,"  said  Allardyce.  "  We'd 
better  get  to  quarters.  Where's  Denny  ?  Tell 
Mr.  Corbyn,  Quiff." 

The  little  gathering  broke  up  swiftly,  to  meet  again 
a  few  moments  later  in  the  long  saloon,  which  Lady 
Landguard  had  transformed,  by  what  means  she 
alone  knew,  into  a  bower  of  brilliant  tropical  bios- 


AU   REVOIR    9  343 

soms.  They  could  hear  the  boatswain's  pipe  as  he 
bade  all  hands  lay  aft,  and  presently  the  whole 
ship's  company  trooped  in.  The  chaplain  took 
his  place.  Corbyn  stepped  forward,  a  little  nervous- 
ly, in  front  of  the  draped  flags,  Meggs  supporting 
him  as  it  had  been  arranged  between  them.  Ybarra 
was  brought  in  between  his  guards  that  he  might 
witness  the  ceremony  and  profit  'by  its  significance. 
And  then  the  bride  came  up  the  aisle  on  Lord  Land- 
guard's  arm,  Fifi  attending  her. 

On  either  side,  bare-headed,  bronzed,  erect  and 
soldierly  in  their  worn  uniforms,  stood  the  men  who 
had  suffered  so  sorely  in  her  defence,  as  gallant  a 
guard  of  honour  as  ever  graced  any  wedding.  They 
would  have  spent  their  lives  for  her  as  uncom- 
plainingly as  had  the  comrades  whom  they  had  left 
behind  in  the  mountains.  Without  them  it  would 
have  gone  very  ill  with  Beatriz,  and  she  found  time 
to  remember  that  as  she  passed  between  the  two 
motionless  ranks. 

A  breathless  stillness  pervaded  the  sunlit  saloon 
during  the  simple  service.  The  chaplain's  tones 
sounded  strangely  impressive.  Corbyn  made  his 
responses  in  a  clear  voice,  and  even  the  bride's 
somewhat  tremulous  whisper  was  audible  every- 
where. She  had  been  dreading  that  her  unscrupu- 
lous cousin  might  see  fit  to  allege  some  unjust  cause 
or  impediment  against  her  marriage,  but  the  Tiger 
looked  on  speechless,  in  ominous  quietude. 

"Whom  God  hath  joined  let  no  man  sunder," 


344        THE  GOLDEN   HORSESHOE 

said  the  naval  chaplain  solemnly,  and  in  another 
moment  the  service  was  over. 

"By  files  from  the  right,"  said  McGuire,  the 
sergeant,  at  the  head  of  his  men,  and  marched  for- 
ward. 

"  Captain  Corbyn,  sor,"  said  he,  very  huskily, 
though  he  strove  to  speak  without  emotion,  "  me  an' 
the  bhoys  here  would  wish  to  shake  hands,  an' — an' 
good  luck  to  ye,  sor.  We'd  do  it  all  over  again 
without  thinkin'  twice,  for  you — an'  for  her." 

Corbyn  wrung  his  hand. 

"McGuire,"  he  replied,  "I  can't  thank  you  in 
words,  but  my  wife  and  I  will  be  in  your  debt  all 
our  lives.  If  we  can  ever  repay  any  part  of  what  we 
owe  each  one  of  you,  you'll  find  means  to  let  us  know. 
We  ask  that  as  a  last  favour  of  you." 

Beacriz  took  his  rough  hand  into  both  of  hers, 
and,  "Sergeant  McGuire,"  said  she,  "you  won't 
ever  hurt  us  by  forgetting  that,  will  you  ?  " 

"There's  no  mother's  son  of  us  will  forget  you, 
Miss — ma'am,"  answered  Sergeant  McGuire. 

A  coast-liner  called  at  La  Boca  that  afternoon,  and 
carried  off  a  husband  and  wife  bound  for  the  Islands 
which  the  mail-steamers  connect  with  all  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  The  other  passengers  were  much 
interested  in  them,  for  they  were  a  very  handsome 
couple,  but  they  seemed  to  prefer  the  less  fre- 
quented parts  of  the  ship.  When  she  left  port  and 
the  great  grey  yacht  in  the  bay  dipped  her  ensign  as 
if  in  farewell,  they  were  leaning  over  the  taffrai) 


AU  REVOIR  345 

looking  their  last  at  the  frowning  mountain-face 
which  had  so  lately  been  to  them  as  a  prison-wall. 
And  their  hearts  were  very  full  as  they  saw  the  fa* 
flag  flutter  down  and  up.  So  that  they  had  nothing 
to  say  to  each  other  just  then,  but  were  well  content 
to  stand  there  side  by  side,  hand  in  hand,  until 
the  frowning  mountain-face  grew  golden  in  the  dim 
distance. 

Those  on  board  the  yacht  watched  the  steamer 
sink  out  of  sight  with  a  feeling  resembling  relief. 
Meggs  gave  voice  to  the  general  sentiment. 

"  We've  spiked  the  Tiger's  guns  for  good  this  time," 
he  remarked  to  Allardyce.  "  They'll  be  safely  away 
from  the  Islands  before  Landguard  lets  him  loose 
again. 

"  What's  our  next  move  to  be  ?  I  could  do  with 
a  little  healthy  excitement  of  some  sort.  I  can't 
stand  too  much  monotony,  and — that's  what's  the 
matter  with  me." 

"You  sit  tight,  Jerry,"  Challoner  recommended. 
"We'll  all  be  back  in  Manhattan  immediately — 
Landguard's  going  to  take  the  whole  outfit  north — 
and  we'll  get  you  a  prescription  there  that'll  quiet- 
en you  down.  You're  too  rambunctious,  my  son. 
That's  what's  the  matter  with  you." 

"  How  would  a  week  or  two  in  London  suit  your 
complaint?"  inquired  Allardyce.  "I  haven't  seen 
Piccadilly  for  close  on  two  years.  Quiff's  bound 
for  St.  Petersburg.  What  are  your  plans,  Denny  ?  * 

"  I  meant  to  tell  you  before,  but  you've  all  been  so 


346        THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

busy  talking,"  returned  O'Dare.  "I'm  going  to 
get  married,  and  settle  down.  I'm  going  to  give  up 
chasing  trouble  for  the  sake  of  finding  out  what 
it  looks  like.  And  I'd  advise  you  all " 

Allardyce  cut  him  short  by  clapping  him  lustily 
over  the  shoulders,  and  "Denny,"  said  he,  "you've 
done  well,  old  chap.  I  know  you'll  be  happy  with 
her.  If  you  don't  ask  me  to  your  wedding  I'll  never 
forgive  you.  When's  it  to  be  ?  " 

f<  Just  as  soon  as  I've  got  things  fixed  up  all  round," 
O'Dare  replied,  "and  that  won't  take  long." 

"Where's  Fifi?"  Meggs  demanded.  "I  must 
wish  her  health,  wealth,  and  happiness  with  you, 
Denny.  You're  in  luck  all  right.  She's  one  in  a 
thousand." 

Challoner  passed  to  O'Dare  a  tiny  parcel,  identi- 
cal with  that  he  had  handed  Corbyn  a  couple  of 
hours  before. 

"  I  had  two  of  'em  made,"  he  remarked.  "  Thought 
there  might  be  use  for  both,  but  I  wasn't  sure.  May 
it  bring  you  both  the  best  of  fortune,  Denny." 

O'Dare  smiled  beatifically  as  he  held  up  the 
rough  gold  ring  it  contained. 

"  Faith,  Quiff,  you're  a  wizard,"  said  he,  "  and  me 
thinking  we  had  kept  our  secret  quite  safe ! " 

They  went  off  in  a  body  to  look  for  Fifi,  whom 
they  found  with  Lady  Landguard  in  the  music- 
room,  and  she  was  almost  overwhelmed  by  the 
warmth  of  their  congratulations.  Landguard  came 
in  presently  from  an  interview  with  Ybarra,  and 


AU  REVOIR  347 

Mr.  Corbyn  came  down  from  his  favourite  corner  in 
the  deck-cabin  to  find  out  what  was  going  on  below. 
And  they  all  sat  there  till  close  on  dinner-time,  mak- 
ing so  much  of  the  bold  O'Dare  and  his  blushing 
fiancee  that  Fifi,  more  than  modest  as  to  her  own 
merits,  became  still  more  firmly  convinced  that  Den- 
nis was  the  most  wonderful  man  in  the  world. 

That  night  La  Boca  made  merry  over  the  Tiger's 
downfall  in  death,  the  accession  to  power  of  don 
Quentin  Sariol,  the  people's  friend.  There  were 
illuminations  and  fireworks,  banquets  and  speeches, 
parades,  salutes.  Ybarra,  on  board  the  yacht, 
foamed  and  fretted  over  the  news  which  Challoner 
had  conveyed  to  him  at  his  own  urgent  request,  but 
soon  regained  control  of  himself  and  did  not  give  way 
again  even  when,  late  next  day,  she  put  out  to  sea 
with  him  and  his  men  on  board. 

His  captors  had  no  intention,  however,  of  taking 
him  with  them  further  than  was  absolutely  necessary, 
and,  as  soon  as  they  had  made  a  sufficient  offing,  the 
vessel  was  brought  to,  and  a  small  shore-boat  which 
Landguard  had  procured  for  that  purpose  was  put 
overside.  Into  it  the  ex-President's  underlings  were 
bidden  descend  and  did  so  without  any  question. 
Don  Ygnacio  himself  was  escorted  as  far  as  the  gang- 
way by  the  English  peer,  and,  when  he  saw  that  he 
was  not  after  all  to  be  shanghaied,  he  thanked  his 
hosts  most  courteously  for  their  considerate  treat- 
ment, regretting  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  make 
their  stay  in  San  Benito  more  pleasant  for  them. 


348        THE    GOLDEN    HORSESHOE 

"That's  all  right,  old  chap,"  said  his  lordship 
suavely.  "We  aren't  grumblin'  about  anythin'. 
And,  let  me  whisper  one  last  word  to  you.  Don't 
let's  have  any  further  argument  about  what's  hap- 
pened lately.  We'll  stay  away  from  San  Benito  if 
you'll  leave  us  all  in  peace.  But  if  you  feel  that  you 
want  to  discuss  matters  further  we'll  come  straight 
back  an'  play  the  game  to  a  finish." 

"  I'd  rather  not  make  any  rash  promises,"  answered 
Ybarra.  "I'll  be  too  busy  for  a  time  in  settling 
accounts  with  my  successor  to  think  of  anything  else 
— a  pity  you  can't  stay  and  see  the  sport ! — but  there- 
after it  may  be  that  I  shall  have  more  to  say  to  your 
friend  Corbyn.  I'm  honest  with  you,  and — I  do 
not  know  that  I'm  beaten." 

"So  be  it,"  Lord  Landguard  agreed.  "The 
moment  that  you  lift  a  finger  against  Phil  Corbyn 
I  take  a  hand.  And  if  Sariol  shoots  you  when  you 
get  ashore  it  may  save  me  the  trouble.  You'll 
pardon  my  frankness." 

The  Tiger  looked  up  from  the  foot  of  the  ladder 
and  smiled  unconcernedly. 

"  When  I  find  fate,"  he  said  assuredly,  "  it  will  not 
be  at  Quentin  Sariol's  hands." 

He  stepped  into  the  boat,  and  waved  a  parting  to 
the  group  at  the  gangway. 

"Au  revoir,"  said  he. 


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